LEARNING ABOUT EDGE EFFECTS AND ULTRAMICROELECTRODES IN ELECTROCHEMISTRY: SYNERGY BETWEEN EXPERIMENTS AND SIMULATIONS

Abstract

A short experimental activity aimed at upper level undergraduate students or beginner researchers is presented to introduce the concepts of edge effects and hemispherical diffusion at ultramicroelectrodes. Students will perform simple cyclic voltammetry experiments varying the scan rate and using disk electrodes with different radii. They are then asked to interpret the results based on their previous knowledge. Simulations are also performed, which provide a clear visual interpretation of the underlying diffusion process and show the transition between linear and hemispherical diffusion regimes. The simulations are also presented as a tool to extend the study beyond the range of experimentally accessible conditions. The interplay between voltammetry experiments and simulations allows a natural comprehension of these concepts without the need of a previous rigorous theoretical introduction.

Keywords

• computer simulations
• electrochemistry
• voltammetry
• diffusion