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F-KJEM-Naturvitenskap, kjemi

Overvoltage in Voltammetry: Fundamental Processes, Connected to Analytical Sensor Development for Online and Remote Trace Analyses

Awarded: NOK 1.7 mill.

Several trace analytical techniques are available for industrial production and environmental pollution control. However, it is a great demand for online and continuos monitoring in the field. Voltammetric methods are among the few useful methods for such measurements, and for many substances, i.e. heavy metals, this is the only acceptable one. Formation of hydrogen gas limits the working potential range of an electrode. At negative applied potentials, hydrogen in solution is reduced to hydrogen gas. This results in a large current that, due to the high concentration of hydrogen present, will ma sk all signal currents due to reduction/oxidation of other species. Mercury is among the available electrode materials with the highest overvoltage towards hydrogen. The overvoltage features of mercury have made it unique as electrode material in voltammetry. However, due to the toxicity, mercury devices cannot be applied for online and field measurements. Our research group has worked out alternative non-toxic electrode materials. This has gained great interest for industrial and environmental monitoring and extensive industrial production has started based upon these ideas. Fundamental research to understand the nature of overvoltage and development of new analytical methods are carried out to extend the possibilities of this new method

Funding scheme:

F-KJEM-Naturvitenskap, kjemi

Thematic Areas and Topics

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