Do carbon nanotubes catalyse bromine/bromide redox chemistry?

Abstract

The redox chemistries of both the bromide oxidation and bromine reduction reactions are studied at single multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as a function of their electrical potential allowing inference of the electron transfer kinetics of the Br₂/Br⁻ redox couple, widely used in batteries. The nanotubes are shown to be mildly catalytic compared to a glassy carbon surface but much less as inferred from conventional voltammetry on porous ensembles of MWCNTs where the mixed transport regime masks the true catalytic response.