Typical applications
This test cell can be used for UV/Vis spectro-electrochemical measurements in a 2- or 3-electrode configuration.
Investigation of UV/Vis active redox species by coupling UV/Vis spectroscopy (transmission mode) with cyclic voltammetry
Determination of the permeability of a membrane for UV/Vis active molecules
Determining the lifespan of short-living intermediary species
Selected views and impressions
Detailed Description
The test cell TSC Spectro is based on high-quality building blocks. The base unit contains a Pt100 temperature sensor located very close to the sample. The base unit electrically contacts the working electrode which is by default a platinum mesh with 152 x 152 wires per inch (= 56% open area).
The platinum mesh is aligned in the center of the optical pathway defined by two laterally arranged, moveable quartz glass windows. The path length can be adjusted to values ranging from 1.4 mm to the thickness of the mesh electrode by screwing the optical windows to different positions.
To measure the optical transmission of the sample in solution, the optical fibres of the spectrometer are directly fixed to the internal collimator lenses via SMA connectors.
Beside the two ports for the quartz glass windows and optical connectors, there is a third one that can be used to insert a reference electrode. As a reference electrode, either an Ag-wire based pseudo reference electrode (by default part of the delivery), or a re-fillable one (has to be ordered separately) can be used. The re-fillable reference electrode is based on a silver wire in a PEEK housing sealed at the front-side by a magnesia frit. It can be filled with a suitable Ag-ion containing electrolyte solution to form a “real” reference electrode of the 2nd kind.
The top part of the test cell is sealed by a cap which provides the counter electrode. As counter electrode, an (exchangeable) glassy carbon electrode tip is used. The glassy carbon electrode tip consists of a glassy carbon rod with a diameter of 6 mm that is press-fitted in a PEEK sleeve and mirror-like polished at the front-side. Two tips with different lengths are part of the scope of delivery.
Other materials than glassy carbon like platinum or gold are available as accessory on demand. Finally, the cap comes with two additional ports that can also be used for inserting metal wire-based reference electrodes or capillaries, e.g. to add additional samples or to extract sample.
The test cell is designed to be air-tight when being assembled, enabling the user to work with air- and moisture-sensitive samples. An electrolyte volume of 0.5 mL to 2.0 mL is required, depending on the chosen counter electrode tip length.
The PEEK housing consists of two separate parts, allowing membranes to be placed between the working electrode in the lower cell compartment and the counter electrode in the cap. This avoids diffusion of reaction products between the cathode and anode compartments.
Technical Details
- Sample volume:
min. 0.5 ml (“long” GC tip), max. 2 ml (standard GC tip); both GC tips are by default part of the scope of delivery
- Pt mesh electrode:
nominal mesh opening = 0.12 mm, wire diameter = 0.04 mm, wire / inch = 152 x 152, open area = 56%, purity of Pt = 99,9%
- Variable position of the optical windows:
variable optical path length (min. mesh electrode thickness, max. 1.4 mm)
- Optical connection:
glass-fibre port (SMA connection), through quartz glass windows
- CE compartment can be separated:
test cell can be split into WE and CE compartment by inserting a membrane
- Test cell material:
gold-plated copper (thermo block), PEEK (housing, cap, plug, fittings), glassy carbon (upper electrode), platinum (mesh electrode), quartz (optical windows and collimator lenses), FKM, EPDM or FFKM (O-rings)
- Sensor:
integrated Pt100 temperature sensor
- Temperature range (operation):
-20 °C to +80 °C depending on sample amount and dew point
- Temperature range (storage):
+10 °C to +30 °C
- Required accessory to make electrical connection:
Microcell HC Setup, Microcell Passive, or customized cable set
Key Data
- Art. No.:
840216
- Material in contact with sample:
sample material / lower electrode, PEEK, glassy carbon (default upper electrode material), platinum (mesh electrode), quartz glass (optical window), O-ring material (FFKM, EPDM)
- Electrodes:
- Sample volume:
0.5 ml (long GC tip) or 2.0 ml (default GC tip)
