Development of flow cell for voltammetric applications

Abstract

In this research, cost-effective flow cells were designed and fabricated using low-cost materials supplied from local hardware stores. Hydrodynamic behavior of these homemade flow cells was characterized using mathematical equation. The fabricated flow cell equipped with boron-doped diamond thin-film (BDD) electrode was used as an amperometric detector in a flow injection analysis system. Malachite green (MG) and leucomalachite green (LMG) were investigated using this system. Cyclic voltammetry as a function of the pH of supporting electrolyte solution and the scan rate in batch experiment was also studies. Determination of MG and LMG using BDD electrode as an amperometric detector in HPLC system was also demonstrated. The signals of both MG and LMG were clearly observed. These results indicate the BDD electrode has a potential to be a detector for HPLC system. With proper design, another fabricated flow cell was used as an interface in an electrochemical surface plasmon resonance (EC-SPR) instrument. This instrument was used to investigate a self-assembled monolayer of decanethiol on gold surface. Both electrochemical and optical signals were recorded simultaneously. The results demonstrate that the electrochemical control coupled with sensitive optical measurements provides a basis for further development of this device into a powerful biosensor.