Metal film electrodes prepared with a reversibly deposited mediator in voltammetric analysis of metal ions

Electrochemical stripping analysis is recognized as a powerful technique for trace metals owing its remarkable sensitivity, relatively inexpensive instrumentation, ability for multielement determination and capable of determining elements accurately at trace and ultra-trace levels. The success of voltammetric sensing procedure depends mainly on the proper choice and preparation of the working electrode. The article reviews the development and application of metal film electrodes (bismuth, lead, and antimony film electrodes) prepared with a reversibly deposited mediator for stripping voltammetric determination of metal ions (Ni(II), Sn(IV), Hg(II), U(VI), Cd(II), Pb(II), and Cr(VI)). In this electrochemical, defect-mediated, thin-film growth method, the mediator is periodically deposited and the stripped from the surface, and this serves to significantly increase the density of islands of atoms of interest metal, what in consequence improves the electrochemical properties of these electrodes, because of the increase in the active surface area of electrode.