Effect of oxygen adsorption on the electrochemical oxidative corrosion of single-walled carbon nanotubes

The effect of adsorbed molecular oxygen on the oxidative corrosion of single-walled carbon nanotubes in aqueous solution was investigated by Raman spectroscopy. Adsorbed molecular oxygen affected nucleation and growth in the electrochemical oxidative corrosion of single-walled carbon nanotubes in aqueous electrolyte. Nucleation and growth began at defect sites in the presence of adsorbed oxygen, but occurred randomly in the absence of adsorbed oxygen. This insight furthers our understanding of the oxidative corrosion of sp super(2)-hybridized carbon, and may enhance the development of fuel cells and sensors based on carbon nanotube electrodes.