Advances in amperometric and conductometric detection in capillary and chip-based electrophoresis

Amperometric and conductometric detection are currently the two major electrochemical detection modes in capillary and chip electrophoresis. The ease of miniaturization and integration of electrochemical detection elements offers a high potential for the development of portable analytical devices based on electromigrative separations. The challenges and basic concepts of both detection principles in the context of capillary/chip electrophoresis are shortly introduced and milestones of the methodical developments are summarized from a historical perspective. Recent advances and applications are discussed with more detail. Particular attention is paid to new trends in this area of research such as measurements in short capillaries and the enormous progress and increased popularity of contactless conductivity detection. Correspondence: Frank-Michael Matysik, Institute of Analytical Chemistry, University of Leipzig, Linnéstr. 3, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany