Computer aided design and experimental investigation of a hydrodynamic device: The microwire electrode

The development and application of a new electrochemical device using a com puter-aided design strategy is reported. This novel design is based on the flow of electrolyte solution past a microwire electrode situated centrally within a large duct. In the design stage, finite element simulations were e mployed to evaluate feasible working geometries and mass transport rates. T he computer-optimized designs were then exploited to construct experimental devices. Steady-state voltammetric measurements were performed for a rever sible one-electron-transfer reaction to establish the experimental relation ship between electrolysis current and solution velocity. The experimental r esults are compared to those predicted numerically, and good agreement is f ound. The numerical studies are also used to establish an empirical relatio nship between the mass transport limited current and the volume now rate, p roviding a simple and quantitative alternative for workers who would prefer to exploit this device without the need to develop the numerical aspects.