Ultra-thin films on transparent conductor oxides for the development of spectro-electrochemical transducers

Transparent C, Au and Pt films with thickness in the 5–10 nm range have been deposited by a DC magnetron sputtering system on commercial ITO (indium tin oxide) coated glass substrate for evaluation as electrode of spectro-electrochemical transducer. The transmission, over the investigated spectral range, is superior to 55% with the best transmission values obtained for C films (higher than 80%). The deposited films have been characterized by AFM, XPS and electrochemical methods. Results showed a low roughness, improved in comparison with uncoated electrodes. Electrochemical properties of the Au and Pt films evidenced a metallic behavior, which allowed qualifying them as conductive optically transparent electrodes for spectro-electrochemical devices.