Stripping Analysis at Bismuth Electrodes: A Review

Abstract

For many years mercury electrodes were the transducer of choice in stripping voltammetry of trace metals owing to their high sensitivity, reproducibility, and renewability. However, because of the toxicity of mercury, alternative (environmentally friendly) electrode materials are highly desired for both centralized and field applications. Recently introduced bismuth electrodes offer a very attractive alternative to commonly used mercury electrodes. Such electrodes display well-defined, undistorted and highly reproducible response, favorable resolution of neighboring peaks, high hydrogen evolution, with good signal-to-background characteristics comparable to those of common mercury electrodes. The attractive stripping behavior of bismuth electrodes reflects the ability of bismuth to form fused multicomponent alloys with heavy metals. Bismuth stripping electrodes thus hold great promise for decentralized metal testing, with applications ranging from continuous remote sensing to single-use measurements. Fundamental studies aimed at understanding the behavior of bismuth film electrodes should lead to rational preparation and operation of reliable alternative (non -mercury) stripping electrodes that would have a major impact upon electroanalysis of trace metals. This article reviews the development, behavior, scope and prospects of bismuth electrodes for stripping-based electrochemical measurements of trace metals.

Preparation of bismuth-based microrods and their application in electroanalysis

“…Bismuth which knew as an environmentally friendly material has received significant attention as an alternative to commonly used toxic mercury in electroanalysis. A wide variety of bismuth-based electrodes, sensors, and detectors of various types, configurations, or constructions had been reported by many researchers [4]. Among them, bismuth film electrodes were mostly used (BiFE) [5,6].…”

Graphene oxide-assisted synthesis of bismuth nanosheets for catalytic stripping voltammetric determination of iron in coastal waters

“…Considering the drawbacks of mercury electrode, such as toxicity, difficulties in the handling and storage [19], chemically modified electrodes have been developed for iron determination. Among the various modified electrodes, the bismuth-based electrodes seem to be the most promising alternatives owing to their lower mercury toxicity, ability to form alloys with metal and considerably sensitive voltammetric detection.…”

Voltammetric techniques of analysis: the essentials

“…When metals are deposited in solid form on electrodes, the dissolution signals are often more complicate (multi peaks) because of the different activities of different crystallographic surface planes. However, in recent years, it has been shown that bismuth film electrodes (on glassy carbon) are an attractive alternative to mercury electrodes [23].…”