Simultaneous determination of both the calibration constant in an electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance and the active surface area of a polycrystalline gold electrode

A novel method is employed for the simultaneous determination of both the c alibration constant of an electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM ) and the active surface area of a polycrystalline gold electrode. A gold e lectrode: is immersed into a 1 mM KI/1 M H2SO4 solution and on which forms a neutral monolayer. The adsorbed iodine can then be completely oxidized in to IO3-. The active surface area of a gold electrode can be obtained from t he net electrolytic charge of the oxidation process, and the calibration co nstant in the EQCM can be calculated from the corresponding frequency shift . The result shows that this method is simple, convenient and valid. (C) 20 00 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.