Graphite-Ethylene/Propylene/Diene Terpolymer Composite Electrodes. A New Electrode Material for Electrochemical Detection

Abstract

The preparation and electroanalytical performance of a new composite electrode material, fabricated by mixing graphite and the ethylene/propylene/diene (EPD) terpolymer is reported. The voltammetric and flow-injection with amperometric detection responses at this composite electrode of several substances of different solubilities in water are discussed and compared with those obtained at graphite-Teflon composite and glassy carbon electrodes. An EPD content around 2% ensures good compactness of the material and an adequate conductivity. Under flowing conditions, these electrodes show better signal-to-background ratios than those obtained with the other electrode materials tested. Furthermore, the new electrodes show very good resistance to fouling with no need of electrode surface pretreatment. The presence of a high content of organic solvent in the carrier solution produces a sharp decrease in the amperometric current thus limiting the advantageous use of the graphite-EPD composite electrodes to predominantly aqueous media.