Hydrodynamic Microelectrodes. The Microstrip Electrode:  Theory and Experiment

Abstract

Theory is presented to predict the mass transport limited current flowing at a hydrodynamic microstrip electrode located in a rectangular flow cell under steady state and chronoamperometric conditions. The influence of electrode size is quantified with the relative effects of lateral diffusion, normal diffusion, and axial convection identified. Theory is found to be in good agreement with experimental measurements conducted using the oxidation of tris(4-bromophenyl)amine at a platinum microstrip electrode. The microstrip electrode is seen to exhibit considerably enhanced mass transport characteristics over its macroelectrode equivalent and consequently is proposed as a new tool for the study of electrode reaction mechanisms.