Current multiple-electron transfers

The mixed potential accounts for a large portion of reported artifacts in the unorthodox potentiometric sensors, particularly biosensors, and can be rightfully called evil potential . The physical origin of such artifacts can be illustrated using a simple example. Let us assume that a multiple electron transfer takes place simultaneously at the interface of a lump of Zn immersed in dilute HC1. Because this metal is not externally connected the net current is zero. The redox reactions taking place are as follows. 

Corresponding anodic and cathodic peaks — Corresponding anodic and cathodic peaks are those anodic and cathodic current peaks produced by -> cyclic voltammetry or -> AC voltammetry which are associated with a single electron transfer or with concerted multiple electron transfers (see - concerted electron transfer). 

On a glassy carbon electrode, the Tafel slope was observed to be 60 mV/dec in alkaline solutions, and at pH < 10, the Tafel slope was 120 mV/dec. These values are in accordance with the proposed mechanisms. In the case of 120 mV/dec, the first electron transfer is the rate determining step. In the case of 60 mV/dec, the current-potential relationship observed from the multiple-electron transfer process of ORR on carbon electrodes was expressed as Equation 2.27, given by Taylor and Humffray [14, 17] ... 

By tradition, electrochemistry has been considered a branch of physical chemistry devoted to macroscopic models and theories. We measure macroscopic currents, electrodic potentials, consumed charges, conductivities, admittance, etc. All of these take place on a macroscopic scale and are the result of multiple molecular, atomic, or ionic events taking place at the electrode/electrolyte interface. Great efforts are being made by electrochemists to show that in a century where the most brilliant star of physical chemistry has been quantum chemistry, electrodes can be studied at an atomic level and elemental electron transfers measured.1 The problem is that elemental electrochemical steps and their kinetics and structural consequences cannot be extrapolated to macroscopic and industrial events without including the structure of the surface electrode. 

Under anodic conditions hole transfer to HF electrolytes is accompanied by electron injection that may lead to quantum efficiencies greater than 1. This effect is known as current multiplication and is discussed in Section 4.4. 

The electron waiting-line problem is hence clear. In a particular multistep electron-transfer reaction, the step with the lowest servicing rate or conductivity produces the largest queue and, indeed, the total queue is virtually a simple multiple of the queue at the rds. In other words, in the steady state, all n steps proceed at the rate of the rate-determining step ir, [cf. Eq. (9.4)], and the total net current is... 

Our current understanding of PSII indicates that the exact role of Mn, Cl , Ca2+, and organic moieties in 02 evolution, though more clear than several years ago, is still incomplete. Key questions such as, What is the structure of OEC , Is 02 formed at a Mn2 subset of the Mn4 aggregate , What is the molecular nature of the multiple subunits involved in electron transfer , What are the protection... 

There are several disadvantages to potential sweep methods. First, it is difficult to measure multiple, closely spaced redox couples. This lack of resolution is due to the broad asymmetric nature of the oxidation/reduction waves. In addition, the analyte must be relatively concentrated as compared to other electrochemical techniques to obtain measurable data with good signal to noise. This decreased sensitivity is due to a relatively high capacitance current which is a result of ramping the potential linearly with time. Potential sweep methods are easy to perform and provide valuable insight into the electron transfer processes. They are excellent for providing a preliminary evalnation, bnt are best combined with other complementary electrochemical techniqnes. 

Interestingly, the anodic dark current at n-Ge electrodes increases considerably upon addition of the oxidized species of a redox system, for instance Ce" ", to the electrolyte, as shown in Fig. 8.4 [7]. The cathodic current is due to the reduction of Ce. The latter process occurs also via the valence band (see Chapter 7), i.e. since electrons are transferred from the valence band to Ce", holes are injected into the Ge electrode. Under cathodic polarization these holes drift into the bulk of the semiconductor where they recombine with the electrons (majority carriers) and the latter finally carry the cathodic current. In the case of anodic polarization, however, the injected holes remain at the interface and are consumed for the anodic decomposition of germanium, as illustrated in the insert of Fig. 8.4. Accordingly, the cathodic and anodic current should be compensated to zero. Since, however, the anodic current is increased upon addition of the redox system there is obviously a current multiplication involved, similarly to the case of two-step redox processes (see Section 7.6). Thus, in step (e) (Fig. 8.1) electrons are injected into the conduction band. This experimental result is a very nice proof of the analytical result presented by Brattain and Garrett [3]. 

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