## 3 Results and Discussion
### Electrochemistry  
Studies regarding the electrochemical behaviour of functional materials, such as metallomesogens, are mandatory for any type of electrochemical application, such as electrochemical sensing. CV technique is a valuable tool to understand the processes that occur at the electrode surface containing a liquid crystal. However, the electrode composition cannot only contain the metallomesogen because it is not able to ensure the electrical conductivity suitable for electrochemical applications, but it can be used as modifier for the carbon-based electrode to enhance its electrochemical properties. In this study, the **GC** electrode was used as a substrate and **Zn_tpy** as a modifier, resulting in a **Zn_tpy/GC** electrode. In order to evaluate the importance of the molecular structure on the electrochemical performance of the modified **GC** electrode, the electrode was characterized in comparison with a **GC** electrode modified with the dichloro Zn(II) precursor **Zn_p** (Scheme 1), which lacks alkyl chains yielding electrode **Zn_p/GC**, and with a simple  
Figure 4: Mesomorphic behaviour of Zn(II) coordination complexes: Cr—crystalline phase; SmA—smectic A mesophase; M\({}_{\rm hex}\)—three-dimensional mesophase with a two-dimensional hexagonal lattice symmetry, Colh: two-dimensional columnar hexagonal mesophase. DSC data on the second cooling cycle. unmodified **GC** electrode. The electrochemical behaviour was studied in 0.1 M NaOH and attempted to reach zinc oxide species, which exhibited enhanced electrocatalytic activity for the electrooxidation processes. The comparative cyclic voltammograms of the **GC** electrode, **Zn_p/GC** electrode and **Zn_typ/GC** electrode in 0.1 M NaOH are presented in Figure 5.  
CV shape recorded at **GC** electrode is changed significantly by the presence of **Zn_typ** onto the **GC** electrode vs. the **Zn_p** presence onto the electrode that influences negligibly the negative cathodic range in comparison with **GC**. This means that no electrochemical behaviour is manifested by **Zn_p** to be considered as redox systems for further involvement within oxidation and reduction electrode processes. First of all, to understand the electrochemical behaviour of **Zn_typ**, it is important to identify all processes that occurred onto **GC** electrode in 0.1 M NaOH. By forward scanning, starting from \(-\)1.50 V vs. SCE, an anodic peak (AI) is evidenced at the potential value of about \(-\)0.25 V vs. SCE, and at the potential value of about \(+\)1.00 V vs. SCE, the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) occurred with a low shoulder type anodic peak at about \(+\)1.25 V, which is characterised by the diffusion-controlled oxygen evolution in alkaline medium of carbon-based electrodes. The first anodic peak should be attributed to the oxidation of the easily oxidizable functional groups of the **GC** surface [53]. By reverse scanning, three cathodic peaks (CI-CIII, Figure 5) appeared on the **GC** electrode. CI recorded at the potential value of \(+\)0.26 V vs. SCE is usually attributed to the reduction of H2O and/or dissolved O2 that is well-known as the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). However, in accordance with the literature data [54], this peak can be attributed to the reduction of difficult oxidized surface functional groups (e.g., edge or basal hydroxyl sites). Considering the high anodic potentials corresponding to OER, the produced oxygen can be divided into inner (adsorbed or trapped onto electrode surface) and dissolved outer oxygen.