Microwave-enhanced electrochemical processes in micellar surfactant media

High intensity microwave radiation effects are demonstrated for electron transfer processes at 25 or 50-μm diameter platinum electrodes immersed in micellar sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) solutions. First, a solution containing 2 mM Fe(CN)₆³⁻ and 2 mM Fe(CN)₆⁴⁻ in aqueous 0.1 M NaCl with and without SDS is employed to calibrate the electrode temperature and mass transport conditions. Addition of 0.1 M SDS has only a small effect on the microwave enhanced voltammetry for the Fe(CN)₆^3-/4− system. Next, two highly water-insoluble redox systems are studied. A solution of 1 mM tert-butylferrocene in aqueous 0.1 M NaCl containing 0.1 M SDS is shown to give no current response in the absence of microwaves. In the presence of focused microwaves at a platinum disc electrode, a strong current for the one electron oxidation of tert-butylferrocene is detected presumably due to localized disruption of the micellar solution. Concentrations of tert-butylferrocene down to the micromolar level are detected. α-Tocopherol, a lipophilic vitamin and antioxidant, is soluble in aqueous 0.1 M SDS/0.1 M NaCl. In the presence of microwave radiation, a strong and concentration dependent anodic current response consistent with the two-electron oxidation of α-tocopherol is observed. A heptode array of seven individual 50 μm diameter platinum microelectrodes placed in ca. 720 μm distance of each other is shown to allow microwave enhanced currents to be increased sevenfold with each electrode exhibiting the same microwave effect.