CADMIUM CHALCOGENIDE THIN FILMS FOR POTENTIOMETRIC APPLICATIONS

Sputtered nano devices based on chalcogenide glasses have been studied. Physical, chemical and electrochemical characteristics are presented. Cd-Ag-(Ge28Sb12Se60) and CdAg-(As2S3) miniaturised ion selective electrodes exhibit near-Nernstian response with a low detection limit versus cadmium (+II) species in solution. High reproducibility and high selectivity are observed. This is a favourable feature for measurements in natural water and waste effluents. Moreover, non-destructive in situ electrochemical technique that is capable of characterizing interfacial reactions has been successfully used. Indeed, Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy technique was used to provide information on fundamental processes that occur at the electrode – solution interface.