A limiting current sensor based on porous Ni electrode for ferricyanide and ferrocyanide detection in aqueous solutions

Zhao, Yuyuan ORCID: 0000-0003-2356-8435 and Zhu, Pengcheng (2021) A limiting current sensor based on porous Ni electrode for ferricyanide and ferrocyanide detection in aqueous solutions. Electrochimica Acta, 385. p. 138428.

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Abstract

The pursuit of better electrochemical sensors highlights the requirements for new sensor designs and electrode materials. The concept of ‘limiting current sensor’ has been validated but confined in gas detection. Herein, we applied the concept of ‘limiting current sensor’ to ions detection in aqueous solutions. A limiting current sensor prototype has been developed for the detection of two potentially hazardous ions, ferricyanide and ferrocyanide, which are widely used in nuclear wastewater treatment, food production and energy generation. The limiting current sensor consists of a three-electrode electrochemical cell equipped with a porous Ni working electrode and a pumping system. The pumping system forces the solution containing ferricyanide/ferrocyanide to flow through the porous Ni electrode, markedly increasing the mass transfer rate. The enhanced mass transfer rate, together with the high surface area of the porous Ni working electrode, increases the reaction rate and in turn improves the detection performance. The limiting current sensor shows two orders of magnitude higher sensitivity and one order of magnitude lower limit of detection than previously reported sensors and exhibits excellent thermal stability, long-term stability and selectivity. The limiting current sensor design can be extended to the detection of other ions or molecules.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Electrochemical detection, Limiting current sensor, Porous electrode, Ferricyanide, Ferrocyanide
Divisions:	Faculty of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	29 Apr 2021 07:46
Last Modified:	18 Jan 2023 22:50
DOI:	10.1016/j.electacta.2021.138428
Related URLs:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3120865