Palladium sub-nanoparticle decorated 'bamboo' multi-walled carbon nanotubes exhibit electrochemical metastability: voltammetric sensing in otherwise inaccessible pH ranges

A generic approach for the detection of electroactive species in potential ranges that would normally be inhibited due to the stripping of the electrocatalytic material is presented. The authors demonstrate, via the example of the electrochem. oxidn. of hydrazine, that Pd nanoparticle (< 1 nm) decorated bamboo multi-walled C nanotubes exhibit a metastability such that they allow the sensing of hydrazine in the pH range where Pd metal would normally be voltammetrically stripped (oxidized) from the surface of convectional electrodes. [on SciFinder(R)]