Stripping Voltammetry at Carbon Electrodes with Different Surface Topography — A Comparative Study

In this study, three selected electrodes were evaluated for the anodic stripping voltammetric (ASV) determination of Tl, Cd, Pb, Cu and for the quantification of Ni dimethylglyoxime by adsorptive stripping voltammetry (AdSV). The measurements were performed by plating a mercury film on a RAM-microarray electrode, on an epoxy impregnated carbon electrode (ultratrace electrode) and on a conventional glassy carbon macroelectrode. The RAM electrode requires less Hg to perform a sensitive determination of the analytes. Caused by spherical diffusion effects, large current signals were obtained with this electrode without stirring the solution during the deposition step. By the use of the ‘ultratrace electrode’ a sensitive determination of Ni was possible without preplating a mercury film. Detection limits between 0.49 ppb and 2.42 ppb due to each analyte could be realized with the working electrodes examined.