Graphene attached to glassy carbon surfaces. From simple deposition to redox polymer cathodic generation

The electrochemical reduction (in aprotic polar solvents) of thin compact graphene layers are mechanically deposited onto flat glassy carbon (GC) surfaces and reduced alone or in the presence of α,ω-dihaloalkanes. These mixed electrolyses implied on one hand graphene moieties considered as redox blocks and/or free radical traps and on the other hand X-R-X as pro-links between graphene islands. Upon electron transfer, α,ω-dihaloalkanes generate reactive transients (e.g. bi-radicals or di-nucleophiles). Additionally, the electrode surface is involved in this process and contributes to create a redox polymer (poly-graphene) really grafted on the electrode that one may imagine highly chemically and electrochemically malleable. This first contribution outlines both the formation and electrochemical capacities of this 3D-electrode. Key-Words: Graphene immobilization; Redox-polymers; Modified electrodes; graphenecarbon interfaces. Corresponding author: Tel.: +33-23236292; Fax: + 33-23236732 Email: [email protected]