External Reflection-Absorption SEC Cells

Examination of the solute species by external reflectance presents far fewer challenges and a variety of cell designs have been reported. These include strategies that permit the study of air-sensitive compounds over a range of 

Relative to the transmission cells described in Section 1.3, external reflectance cells are less simple to construct and require additional optics for incorporation into the optical path of the spectrometer. The advantages associated with the approach relate to the well-defined nature of the working electrode, the wider range of materials suitable for this purpose, and the greater control over the thickness of the thin layer of solution. These factors contribute to a much faster ( 10x) rate of electrosynthesis for external reflectance compared to transmission cells. 

---