Electrochemical characteristics of thin nickel hexacyanoferrate films formed on gold and thiol self-assembled monolayers modified gold electrodes

Nickel hexacyanoferrate (NiHCF) film was prepared and characterized on gold and thiol self-assembled monolayers (SAMs)-modified gold electrodes. It was found that the film exhibited some different electrochemical characteristics compared with that found on a carbon electrode. In the presence of K+, the film exhibited a redox peak at about 0.5 V. The peak potential shifted linearly with the K+ concentration over the range of about 0.1 mM - 0.1 M with slopes of 54 - 60 mV per log[K+]. However, in solutions containing Na+, Li+ or NH4+ ion the film did not generate well-defined peaks, or even a visible redox peak. Therefore, the film showed a selective potential response to K+. The voltammetric behavior of NiHCF film varied with thiols, the preparation procedure and the solution pH. Under certain conditions, the characteristics of the film could be improved to some extent.