Transient currents in the staircase voltammetry of electro-catalytic reaction on the rotating disk electrode

Abstract

The method of variable diffusion layer thickness is applied in the calculation of staircase voltammetry of electro-catalytic reactions on the rotating disk electrode. It is shown that voltammograms exhibit either maximum or limiting current, but rarely both. This is because the potential range within which a certain reaction is recorded is limited and must be scanned rather slowly to allow the diffusion layer to extend to the steady state limit. If the scan rate is high, this condition is not satisfied and the response is recorded under transient conditions. The relationship between current maxima and the experimental conditions are analysed theoretically.