12 - Textile fibres used as electrode materials in analytical applications

Abstract

This chapter discusses the topics of research in which textile fibers and structures are used as electrodes to detect and determine chemical compounds, concentration to optimize the detection conditions and to use such systems to follow and control polymerization reactions. Electrochemical measurements are useful for determining concentrations of electroactive species in solution. Voltammetric measurements in highly resistive media became possible by using ultramicro electrodes, which should have dimensions in the range of micrometers or less. One of their most claimed advantages is that the electrode processes are commonly associated with low currents in the range of nano- or picoamperes. As a result, the ohmic “IR” drop, even in organic solvents with high resistance, can be kept sufficiently low and voltammetric experiments can be performed. Furthermore, ultramicro electrodes have an excellent signal ratio of Faraday-to-background current and enable low concentrations of electroactive species to be determined in high-resistance media. The ability of measuring in low conducting media opens up new perspectives, particularly for electroanalytical purposes in monitoring polymer reactions.