Low Frequency Sound for Effective Sensitivity Enhancement in Staircase Voltammetry

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Abstract
The success of improving the sensitivity in differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry by exposure of low frequency sound has been reported in earlier papers. It has been found that audible sound in the low frequency range, of about 100 Hz or lower is very effective for this purpose, with an increase of the signal up to about 300%, without any significant increase of the corresponding noise level. It has been assumed that a similar effect will also appear with other modes of voltammetry. In this present paper this assumption is confirmed by use of low frequency sound in dc stripping and staircase voltammetry. Ordinary stirring or rotating has to be avoided during a voltammetric scanning due to the low reproducibility when this takes place. Sound exposure, however, can be performed during the entire measurement. The simplicity of using audible sound together with enhanced sensitivity and more reproducible analyses makes this method potentially attractive, especially for use in online instruments. The enhancement in sensitivity has been found both for analyses using mercury drop and glassy carbon working electrodes.