Primary current and potential distributions for mercury micro-electrodes

Abstract

Primary current and potential distribution and dimensionless primary resistances for spherical mercury drop electrodes, which take account of the effect of truncation of the mercury drop by the glass capillary, are determined using the electrostatic method of images. The tangent-sphere model closely approximates a representative DME, but not the HDE, which experiences significantly less shielding. The equipotentials undergo a gradual transition from a nearly spherical shape near the electrode surface to a shape approximated by a hemisphere capped by a cylinder at moderate distances from the drop.