Development of graphite/silicone composites for use as flexible electrode materials

Graphite/silicone composites (SGCE) in different ratios were prepared and characterized for different strategies, such as thermogravimetry (TG), Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). A electrochemical characterization of the different electrodes was performed by applying cyclic voltammetry; experiments covered a potential window from −0.2 to 0.8 V (vs. Ag|AgCl), using as a probe a K3Fe(CN)6 5 mmol L−1 in KCl 0.5 mol L−1 solution. Voltammetric profiles for both blank and probe solutions were suitably recorded under a 50 mV s−1 scan rate. Results from cyclic voltammetry led to morphological and topographical assessments performed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM), respectively. The only ratio that showed flexible and self-sustaining properties with a reversible voltammetric profile at slow scan rates (5-15 mV s−1) was SG1. The use of the SSF/Graphite-Silicone composite electrodes for electroanalytical applications is very promising, since these types of electrodes allow for the monitoring of electroactivity, presenting applicability even with low graphite ratios.