Simultaneous electrochemical and piezoelectric microgravimetry measurements of C₆₀ films with a quartz crystal microbalance in a dimethylformamide-water mixed solvent solution containing potassium ions

Abstract

Simultaneous electrochemistry and piezoelectric microgravimetry studies using electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance were carried out on solution cast C₆₀ films. These films could be reduced in dimethylformamide + water mixture containing potassium ions. It was established that the first reduction was a completely surface-confined process, while the second reduction produced dissolved species. Restricting the potential range only to the first reduction, we could observe reversible electrochemical transformation of the films. Measuring the mass changes of the electrodes during the electrochemical processes, we found that the “simple” voltammograms (single reduction and oxidation peaks) actually cover simultaneous processes. Both the reduction and the oxidation involved the movements of anions, cations and solvent molecules in and out of the films. It was measured that the initial behavior of the films varied “randomly”, probably depending on the unpredictable structure of the film produced by solution casting. However, the films adjusted themselves to the experimental conditions displaying “steady-state” behavior after a certain number of potential scans. This “steady-state” behavior could be reached independently of the original structure, or the amount of C₆₀ put on the surface, but it could be perturbed easily by altering the conditions. The films were self-adjusted to the measurements.