This project is in the general area of analytical and surface chemistry and in the subfield of electroanalytical chemistry. The primary thrust of this activity is develop normal and reverse pulse squarewave voltammetric techniques for application to micro- and ultramicroelectrodes. These electrodes, which have diameters less than 25 micrometers, are fabricated from platinum, carbon, tungsten, and mercury-coated iridium. Use of them as voltammetric sensors alleviates many of the electrical resistance restrictions that are encountered with larger electrodes. The theory which describes the pulse voltammetric responses expected at these electrodes is being developed by Dr. Osteryoung for analytical and kinetic use. The application of pulse voltammetric techniques to micro- and ultramicroelectrodes provides new, sensitive electrochemical measurement technologies that should have broad application in trace analysis, materials characterization, and in vivo studies of biosystems.
