Fullerene film electrodes in aqueous solutions

Solution-cast C60 films on gold and glassy carbon substrates can be reduced electrochemically in aqueous solutions producing an electron-conducting cation exchanger material. These films remain active even on exposure to air; their activity decreases measurably only after several hours due to some partial oxidation by oxygen. However, they can be converted irreversibly to an insulator form by electrochemical oxidation starting from about 600 mV versus SHE. Below this potential limit the reduced C60 films can be used as electrode materials, and their specific behaviour is demonstrated with some test compounds.