Surface modified microelectrodes for selective electroanalysis of metal ions in environmental components

The surface modification of electrodes was achieved by the Langmuir-Blodgett technique. The monolayers of laponite clay and polythiophene were formed at the air-water interface and these films were then transferred onto carbon microelectrodes. The behaviour of both untreated and coated electrodes was tested by originally developed double-step voltcoulometry (DSVCM). The dependence of charge response on the concentration of Cu2+ species was investigated. Straight calibration curves were obtained and enhanced sensitivity of coated electrodes was documented. It is shown that the accumulation of Cu ions into laponite clay was maintained even after transferring the electrode into a pure water. The characteristic features of the "memory effect" are discussed. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.