Time of first arrival in electrochemical collision experiments as a measure of ultralow concentrations of analytes in solution.

Abstract

In electrochemical collision experiments, the frequency of collisions of nanoparticles (NPs) with an ultramicroelectrode (UME) is a measure of the solution concentration of NPs. The time of first arrival is evaluated as a measure of ultralow (sub-femtomolar) concentration of analytes in solution. This is the time from the beginning of the experiment until the moment of observation of the first electrochemically detectable collision event. Theoretical equations are developed relating the time of the first arrival and the concentration of analyte species in solution for the cases when the species is transferred by diffusion alone and with electrophoretic migration. These equations are supported by experimental data. According to analysis of the results, the time of first arrival can be used successfully to estimate the order of magnitude of the analyte concentration with the precision of analysis being affected by the inherent stochasticity of the analyte movement and its initial position near the electrode. The use of the multiplexed parallel detection based on simultaneous measurement of a series of time of first arrival values will allow both faster and more precise determination of ultralow concentrations of analytes in solution.