DETERMINATION OF THE RATE CONSTANTS OF AN IRREVERSIBLE ELECTRODE-REACTION BY USING DOUBLE POTENTIAL STEP CHRONOAMPEROMETRY

Unlike single potential step techniques for which procedures to determ ine the rate constants of an irreversible electrode reaction are well documented, methods to obtain these rate constants by using potential step techniques barely have been described in the literature. In this paper, it has been shown that simple procedures to determine the value s of the rate constants for electrode processes with a slow charge-tra nsfer reaction by using double potential step chronoamperometry at pla ne electrodes can also be applied. In addition, these procedures provi de criteria to assess easily the reversibility of the electrode reacti on. Detailed methods of data analysis are also discussed.