Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy investigations of a microelectrode behavior in a thin-layer cell: Experimental and theoretical studies

J Phys Chem B. 2006 Oct 19;110(41):20478-85. doi: 10.1021/jp063055h.

Abstract

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy experiments were performed on a microdisk electrode in a thin-layer cell using a scanning electrochemical microscope for controlling the cell geometry. Experimental data showed that when the thin-layer thickness diminished, an additional low-frequency response appeared. It was ascribed to the radial diffusion of the electroactive species and was strongly dependent on the thin-layer dimensions (both thickness and diameter). Moreover, the numerical simulation of the impedance diagrams by finite element method calculations confirmed this behavior. An equivalent circuit based on a Randles-type circuit was proposed. Thus, the diffusion was described by introducing two electrical elements: one for the spherical diffusion and the other for the radial contribution. A nonlinear Simplex algorithm was used, and this circuit was shown to fit the impedance diagrams with a good accuracy.