Generator-collector experiments at a single electrode: exploring the general applicability of this approach by comparing the performance of surface immobilized versus solution phase sensing molecules

Langmuir. 2010 Jan 19;26(2):1340-6. doi: 10.1021/la902418v.

Abstract

We demonstrate proof-of-concept that generator-collector experiments can be performed at a single macroelectrode and used to determine mechanistic information. The practical advantages of such a system over conventional generator-collector techniques are also outlined. The single-electrode generator-collector technique is applied to study the known mechanism of oxygen reduction in aqueous conditions as a model system. We seek to demonstrate that the single-electrode generator-collector approach is capable of detecting local pH changes, immediately adjacent to the electrode surface during a redox reaction. Experiments are performed using a molecular pH probe attached to the electrode surface. Comparison of experimental data with numerical simulations verifies that the reduction of oxygen at pH 6.8 proceeds via a two-electron, two-proton mechanism. Experiments were also performed with a molecular pH probe dissolved in the electrolyte solution in order to explore the feasibility of this approach, which is potentially applicable to a much wider range of electrochemical systems.