Defects mirror-like surfaces

Due to the role of surface states, the dark limiting current of silicon electrode is extremely sensitive to surface defects and thus surface preparation. Any scratch even barely visible on the mirror like surface can result in a significant increase of the anodic limiting current. According to Chazalviel, defects associated with surface treatment are primarily responsible for the large limiting current values reported in the literature. The effect caused by surface states may, however, be reduced by the formation of a... 

As another factor in determining the quality of the electrode material for electroanalysis, the absence of surface defects [45] is important. Polished polycrystalline BDD electrodes, which have a mirror like finish, can exhibit low background currents in voltammetric measurements, which lead to high S/B ratios, as for single-crystal homoepitaxial BDD electrodes. However, in the CV for serotonin (Fig. 8.6), one of the important bioamines, there is a... 

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