C. Amatore et al., Mapping concentration profiles within the diffusion layer of an electrode Part II. Potentiometric measurements with an ultramicroelectrode, ELECTROCH C, 2(4), 2000, pp. 248-253
A platinum-disk ultramicroelectrode is used to monitor electrochemical pote
ntial variations inside the steady-state diffusion layer created by a large
r electrode. The experimental potential variations result from combination
of a pure electrochemical component (viz., as given by the Nernst law) with
a smaller ohmic drop contribution, which varies linearly with the distance
from the working electrode surface so that it can be readily eliminated. F
rom the ensuing corrected potential variations, the concentration profiles
of the electroactive species present within the diffusion layer can be reco
nstructed by application of the Nernst law. The validity and great interest
of the method are demonstrated experimentally by the study of the one-elec
tron reversible oxidation of the Fe(CN)(6)(3-)/Fe(CN)(6)(4-) couple in aque
ous KCI solutions. As a correlation, this demonstrates also for the first t
ime the validity of the Nernst layer approximation. The method is then appl
ied to examine the specific structure of the diffusion layers, which result
from the involvement of a conproportionation reaction during the second re
duction of tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) in DMF. (C) 2000 Elsevier Scienc
e S.A. All rights reserved.