Ring-disc electrodes. Part 11.—General theory of transient currents

Abstract

The previous theory ¹ of ring-disc electrode transients is generalized to describe the ring current obtained when material is generated at the disc electrode. Conversely, from the ring current transient one can measure the flux of material being produced at the disc electrode. Differences between the flux of material and the flux of electrons (the disc current) may be caused by adsorption, double-layer charging, generation or decomposition of electrode intermediates, or oxidation or reduction of the electrode surface. Integrated ring current transients are a sensitive method for measuring small amounts of adsorption, deposition or dissolution. A numerical technique for inverting the Laplace transforms containing Airy functions is presented.