Publication details
Bipolar electrochemical detection of reducing compounds based on visual observation of a metal electrodeposited track at the onset driving voltage
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2018 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Web | http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2018.04.066 |
| Doi | http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2018.04.066 |
| Keywords | Bipolar electrochemistry; Bipolar electrode; Visual detection; Ascorbic acid; Hydrogen peroxide; Portable analytical device |
| Description | This work reports on a new bipolar electrochemistry based device for the detection of reducing compounds that are oxidized at the anode compartment of a “closed” bipolar electrode cell by recording the onset driving voltage at which an electrodeposited metal track, being visible by the unaided eye, is formed at the cathode pole. The concept is demonstrated for the determination of ascorbic acid and hydrogen peroxide by using an acidic solution of copper(II) chloride, while the underlying theory is explained. The onset driving voltage of the indication event (formation of the metal track) is found to be dependent on the concentration of the targets. Compared with the existing bipolar electrochemistry based analytical methods, the proposed method: i) introduces for the first time the onset driving potential as a measure of the target concentration, and ii) does not require extra instrumentation or devices for measuring the reporting event (intensity of emitted light, fluorescence or electrode’s length at the sub mm level). Along with its inherent advantages of low cost and simplicity it paves the way for the development of low-cost, portable analytical devices for reducing species and, potentially, for the development of biosensors based on oxidase enzymes |