[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
Understanding Voltammetry Richard G Compton and Craig E Banks
Publisher: World Scientific
Year: 2007
Pages: 384
Price: 42 [pounds sterling]
ISBN: 978-981-270-625-6
Textbooks on electrochemistry are well-known for containing
mathematical equations, and this is no exception. Page 1 goes straight
into a mathematical description of chemical equilibrium, and as to be
expected in a treatise by authors from a renowned physical chemistry
laboratory, there is substantial mathematical underpinning of
electrochemical principles throughout the text.
However, there is more to this book than descriptions of
physicochemical fundamentals of the subject, although these are given
comprehensively. For example, there are fascinating potted biographies
of some of the key historical figures in the discipline. It is
instructive to note that, for example, Fick was a medical physiologist,
while Tafel was an organic chemist whose first publication on
electrochemistry in the late 1890s concerned the cathodic reduction of
strychnine at a lead electrode, although organic electrochemistry itself
is an older topic, being studied by Faraday and Kolbe in the 1840s.
Given the modern tendency to narrow down degree courses almost to
sub-groups of a subject, the polymath interdisciplinary capability of
these earlier scientists is striking.
The authors of this book also have multidisciplinary vision: their
aim is to provide an introduction to an interested reader of the various
methods of voltammetric analysis, and a feature of the book concerns the
range of examples given.
These span from traditional redox systems through to complex
electroorganic mechanisms, including modern developments, such as: ionic
liquid media; processes occurring at three phase boundaries and in
immiscible media--those of relevance to biological systems; and novel
electrode materials and configurations, such as microelectrode arrays.
The prefix 'nano' is much in evidence, in nanoparticulate
products, or as a descriptor of the electrode system, such as use of
carbon nanotubes, or in nanosecond timescales in ultrafast voltammetric
methods. The authors' laboratory is known for expanding the range
of practical electroanalyses, with underpinning modelling and
interpretation; the book deals with not only traditional methods of
voltammetry, but also shows how to exploit controlled hydrodynamics, for
example, in channel electrode systems using microband arrays, while many
possible reaction mechanisms are addressed, EC, ECE, ECE-DISP, catalytic
variants and others.
The use of unusual methodologies extends to the combination of
ultrasonic irradiation to voltammetry. This offers benefits in terms of
improved hydrodynamics, hence higher limiting currents and analytical
sensitivity; obviation of electrode fouling, thus allowing solid
electrodes to replace mercury; of benefit on environmental grounds; and
formation of emulsions, for example, to allow aqueous media to be used
in place of organic media.
The ethos of this book is to emphasise the benefits of voltammetric
techniques in real-world situations. The authors' laboratory has
made the most extensive study of sonoelectrochemistry, and has used this
technique to improve a wide range of electroanalyses, including
stripping voltammetries (anodic, cathodic and adsorptive) and then
applied these to problematic real-life analyses. These include the
sensing of toxic species in river water, seawater, industrial effluent
or sewage, and analyses of metal ions in beer. Similar principles apply
for analyses in blood and other beverages, such as tea and vitamin
drinks, all systems where electrode fouling or other competitive
processes can interfere. Another nice example given in the book concerns
the electroanalysis of nitrite ions in egg-white, a highly awkward
medium for silent studies, but one that gives an effective
sonoelectrochemical response. These examples all serve to remind of the
principle, well-known to electrochemists, that what can work very well
on a model system in the laboratory, may not work so well in the real
world.
There is a wealth of voltammetric data from a range of systems,
with numerous diagrams showing actual voltammograms, greatly helpful to
a reader new to the field, with underpinning mathematical equations and
supportive mechanistic explanation. This is most useful and instructive
book.
David Walton is an emeritus professor at Coventry University, UK
COPYRIGHT 2008 Society of Chemical
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