Overcoming Solution Resistance with Stability and Grace in Potentiostatic Circuits

Overcoming Solution Resistance with Stability and Grace in Potentiostatic Circuits 

David K. Roe Portland State University, Portland, Oregon 

However, potential control is not yet perfect since some resistance remains between the reference and working electrodes the value depends on solution conductivity, the distance between the two electrodes, and electrode geometry. Overcoming this last hurdle with poise is not an easy task, so it is worthwhile to first examine the magnitude of this resistance and its consequences. 

In a cell with spherical symmetry, the resistance between the large auxiliary electrode (radius ra) and a small working electrode (radius rw) is given by 

The specific conductivity of the solution, K (Q-cm)1, can be found in reference handbooks or estimated from limiting ionic conductances. 

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Ref [i] Roe DK (1996) Overcoming solution resistance with stability and grace in potentiostatic circuits. In Kissinger PT, Heineman WR (eds) Laboratory techniques in analytical chemistry, 2nd edn. Marcel Dekker, New York, pp 195-235... 

Refs. [i] Myland JC, Oldham KB (2000) Anal Chem 72 3972 [ii] Oldham KB, Stevens NPC (2000) Anal Chem 72 541 [iii] Roe DK (1996) Overcoming solution resistance with stability and grace in potentiostatic circuits. In Kissinger PT, Heineman WR (eds) Laboratory techniques in electroanalytical chemistry, 2nd edn. Marcel Dekker, New York, chap 7 [iv] Oldham KB, Myland JC (1994) Fundamentals of electrochemical science, 1st edn. Academic Press, San Diego, p 397... 

D.K. Roe, Overcoming Solution Resistance with Stability and Grace in Potentiostatic Circuits, Laboratory Techniques in Electroanalytical Chemistry, P.T. Kissinger and W.R. Heineman, Ed., Marcel Dekker, Inc., 1984, p 193-234... 

Roe, D. K. Overcoming Solution Resistance with Stability and Grace in Potentiostatic Circuits. In Laboratory... 

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