Glassy carbon electrodes molecular characterization

Twenty years ago the main applications of electrochemistry were trace-metal analysis (polarography and anodic stripping voltammetry) and selective-ion assay (pH, pNa, pK via potentiometry). A secondary focus was the use of voltammetry to characterize transition-metal coordination complexes (metal-ligand stoichiometry, stability constants, and oxidation-reduction thermodynamics). With the commercial development of (1) low-cost, reliable poten-tiostats (2) pure, inert glassy-carbon electrodes and (3) ultrapure, dry aptotic solvents, molecular characterization via electrochemical methodologies has become accessible to nonspecialists (analogous to carbon-13 NMR and GC/MS). 

Yu, R., Lin, Y, Xiang, L., Su, L., Zhang, J., and Mao, L. (2005). Molecular films of water-miscible Ionic liquids formed on glassy carbon electrodes Characterization and electrochemical applications. Langmuir, 21, pp. 9000-9006. 

Yu P, Lin Y, Xiang L, Su L, Zhang J, Mao L (2005) Molecular films of water-miscible ionic liquids formed on glassy carbon electrodes characterization and electrochemical applications. Langmuir 21(20) 9000-9006. doi 10.1021/la051089v... 

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