Electrochemical durability of single-wall carbon nanotube electrode against anodic oxidation in water

The electrochemical capability of single-wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) electrodes is investigated to establish their reliability in practical applications. Direct current (DC) voltage of +10 V is applied across the SWCNT anode and Pt cathode in water, and the electrochemical fracturing behavior of SWCNTs is analyzed using transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. A considerable number of short SWCNTs, with lengths of less than 200 nm, are observed to be electrochemically generated. This result suggests that the anodic corrosion of SWCNTs occurs even in water, a non-electrolyte liquid. Raman spectroscopy and a comparison study of the anodization behavior of SWCNTs with narrow (0.9 nm) and wide (1.8 nm) diameters indicate that the durability of narrow SWCNTs is lower than that of the wide SWCNTs.