POWDER MICROELECTRODES

We have shown that powder microelectrodes are a potentially useful tec hnique for electroanalytical chemistry and the study of the electroche mical kinetic and cyclic behavior of various powdery materials. The ma in merits of this type of electrode are as follows. (1) It is possible to achieve a significantly enhanced electrode surface and homogeneous polarization simultaneously. Improved reversibility, a better develop ed limiting diffusion current and easier analysis of experimental data should render this type of electrode applicable in many areas of elec troanalytical chemistry and electrode kinetics studies. (2) Electroche mical study of powders is easy and rapid. The powder microelectrode is much simpler to prepare than the porous electrode, and the cyclic cha rge-discharge behavior of electroactive materials can be studied much more rapidly with the powder microelectrode than with the conventional porous electrode method. Results obtained with the porous electrode a nd with the powder microelectrode are usually in good agreement with e ach other.