Microscopic and electrochemical characterization of lead film electrode applied in adsorptive stripping analysis

On spot detection of nickel and cobalt from exhausted batteries by a smart electrochemical sensor

This work presents the realization and the application of an user-friendly electrochemical platform based on screen-printed electrodes for the simultaneous determination of nickel and cobalt ions in real samples by means of square wave adsorptive stripping voltammetry (SWAdSV). The sensor was realized by electrodepositing in situ a bismuth film onto graphite screen-printed electrodes (GSPEs). The sensor surface was fully characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The experimental conditions for the determination of nickel and cobalt in the form of dimethylglyoximate complexes were studied and optimized. Linear calibration curves for Ni(II) and Co(II), determined individually and together, in the range 10-40 μg/L for nickel and 10-60 μg/L for cobalt, respectively, were obtained. The limits of detection for nickel and cobalt determination were 2.5 μg/L and 2.4 μg/L, respectively. The performance of the sensor in terms of reproducibility and selectivity was also studied. The applicability of the developed platform was assessed by determining nickel and cobalt in samples deriving from an industrial process of recycling exhausted batteries and in soil samples.

Influence of Pb(II) concentration and pH of acetate buffer on the potential window of a lead film electrode: an Atomic Force Microscopy Study

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) studies on observations of lead films deposited from the solutions containing an acetate buffer and different concentration of Pb(II) are presented. AFM images show considerable variability in morphology of the deposited lead layer depending on experimental conditions. To investigate effects of the Pb(II) concentration and pH of the supporting electrolyte on the accessible potential window of the lead film electrode (PbFE), voltammetric techniques were used. It was found that the useful potential window of PbFE is affected by the pH and Pb(II) concentration. Additionally, it was found that the distribution and large size of Pb particles on the electrode surface shown by AFM corresponded well to the mass of Pb expected on the glassy carbon support with respect to the voltammetric data. Results reveal that PbFE is an attractive nonmercury metallic electrode suitable for electrochemical detection of metal ions and a lot of organic compounds in a wide potential window. The accessible potential window of the PbFE in an acetate buffer (pH = 5.0) was compared to those obtained at the bismuth film electrode and antimony film electrode.