Trichloroethylene sensor by using electrodeposited Pb-modified graphite strip electrode

A new trichloroethylene (TCE) sensor was developed by using a Pb-modified graphite strip electrode in an organic solution. The major factors of preparing electrode or sensing characteristics such as electrolyte concentration, electrodeposition current density, electrodeposition time, and temperature, for preparing electrodes, were explored. The results show that both the electrodeposition current density and time have a major and positive effect on the sensing reaction, while the electrodeposition temperature shows a negative effect. The best electrodeposition condition and electrolyte composition were obtained. Additionally, the optimal sensing condition is -2.10 V sensing potential (vs. Ag/Ag(+) with 0.01 M [CH(3)(CH(2))(3)](4) NClO(4) in CH(3)CN solution), 100 rpm agitation rate and at 25degreesC with the 0.01 M [CH(3)(CH (2))(3)](4) NBF(4) electrolyte concentration in CH(3)N solution. The correlation of sensing response current, i(d), and TCE concentration, C(L), is i(d) = 7.065 C(L) in the range from 0 to 700 ppm TCE concentration. Furthermore, the prepared electrode has 15 s response time (90% response time), and the stability is at least 60 days. (C) 2002 The Electrochemical Society.