Preparation of a mercury film electrode modified by tri-n-octylphosphine oxide and the electrochemical properties of this electrode

Mercury film electrodes have been prepared on silver metal and silver-coated glassy-carbon supports and have been modified by a film of tri-n-octylphosphine oxide (TOPO) in a poly(vinyl chloride) matrix. The electrodes have been characterized in detail and the effects of the modifying film parameters on their electrochemical properties have been studied. It has been shown that these electrodes permit selective and sensitive determinations of many metals. The most important parameters are the thickness of the modifying film, the modifier-to-matrix ratio in the modifying film and the base electrolyte composition. Data concerning the reactions of a number of metal ions on the modified electrode are given.