Decamethylferrocene oxidation at interdigitated microband array electrodes in the absence of intentionally added supporting electrolyte: experiment versus finite element model

Abstract

Abstract The one-electron oxidation of decamethylferrocene (FeCp*2) in the absence of added supporting electrolyte is investigated as a model redox system in acetonitrile to shed new light onto (i) the effect of added supporting electrolyte and (ii) the impact of using two-electrode versus three-electrode configurations for interdigitated array electrodes. Electrochemical processes at interdigitated microband array electrodes (anode and cathode each 250 platinum bands, 5 μm width, 5 μm gap) are investigated with the aim to explore self-supported processes for electrosynthesis in the absence of added supporting electrolyte. Two types of steady state and the corresponding time to steady state are discussed. When working without added supporting electrolyte, finite element theory predicts current doubling and a marked change in concentration profiles. Implications for electrosynthesis at interdigitated microband electrodes are summarised. Graphical Abstract

Keywords

• Electrosynthesis
• Ferrocene
• Supporting electrolyte
• Microband
• Interdigitated array
• Finite element method