6: Voltammetry at Heterogeneous Surfaces

Abstract:

The purpose of this chapter is to further develop the conceptual insights from the previous two chapters in the context of electrodes which can be described as spatially heterogeneous. That is to say, the electrochemical activity varies over the surface of the electrode. Specific examples embrace

• Partially blocked electrodes

• Microelectrode arrays

• Electrodes made of composite materials

• Porous electrodes

• Some modified electrodes

The simulation of the voltammetric response at such surfaces is challenging and interesting because of the surface variation and because of the often random distribution of the zones of different electrode activity. We start by considering the case of partially blocked electrodes.