The effect of an electrical double layer on the voltammetric performance of nanoscaleinterdigitated electrodes: a simulation study

Abstract

Finite-element based computational simulation is performed to investigate the effect of anelectrical double layer (EDL) on the electrochemical processes of nanometer-scaleinterdigitated electrodes (nano-IDEs). Results show that the EDL structure will alter thevoltammetric current response of nano-IDEs due to the expansion of the diffuse layer intothe diffusion layer at the electrode surfaces and the overlap of the electrical fields of theneighboring electrodes. The EDL induced change in the voltammetric current response ismore severe for nano-IDEs with a smaller electrode size and gap spacing, and theEDL effect is influenced by the compact layer thickness, the charge valence ofthe redox species, the electron transfer rate, and the absence of the supportingelectrolyte.