Dioxygen electrochemistry, application

The main application of dioxygen electrochemistry has been and continues to be in the realm of analytical chemistry. The preceding sections of this chapter provide ample evidence that for carefully controlled conditions the current (i ) for the reduction of 02 is directly proportional to its concentration [which is directly proportional to its partial pressure (P )] ... 

The interaction of dioxygen with metals is important to these systems as well as to the development of O2 sensors plus fuel cells, batteries, and electrocatalysts see Electrochemistry Applications in Inorganic Chemistr Therefore, it is not surprising that studies of the interaction and activation of dioxygen at metal sites have occupied and fascinated researchers for quite some time. 

Direct electrochemistry has also been used (72-78) to couple the electrode reactions to enzymes for which the redox proteins act as cofactors. In the studies, the chemically reduced or oxidized enzyme was turned over through the use of a protein and its electrode reaction as the source or sink of electrons. In the first report (72, 73) of such application, the electrochemical reduction of horse heart cjd,ochrome c was coupled to the reduction of dioxygen in the presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa nitrite reductase/cytochrome oxidase via the redox proteins, azurin and cytochrome C551. The system corresponded to an oxygen electrode in which the four-electron reduction of dioxygen was achieved relatively fast at pH 7. 

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