The Application of Microelectrodes for the Measurements of Trace Metals in Water

Abstract

The analytical approaches for the determination of trace concentrations of heavy metals in aquatic systems are briefly introduced. A detailed review on the recent advances of microelectrodes is presented, including the definitions, types, advantages, theory, and fabrication of microelectrodes. The application of microelectrodes on the measurements of trace metals in water is focused on the voltammetric‐, potentiometric‐, and in situ electrochemical sensors.

Keywords:

• Microelectrodes
• ultramicroelectrode array (UMEA)
• heavy metals
• stripping analysis
• electrochemical sensors
• aquatic systems

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the German “Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF)” for the financial support of the project.