Nafion polymer coated bismuth-film-modified carbon film electrodes have been investigated for reducing the influence of contaminants such as surfactants in the anodic stripping voltammetry of trace metal ions. The influence of the coating on electrode response has been tested with both ex situ and in situ bismuth film deposition, with and without the polymer coating. The electrode assemblies and interfacial characteristics in the presence of the non-ionic surfactant Triton-X-100 have been probed with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The Nafion coating successfully decreases the adsorption of Triton on the bismuth film surface, and demonstrates that this strategy allows measurement of these trace metals in environmental samples containing surfactants.

Bismuth films (BiF) deposited in situ on graphite-polyurethane composite electrodes were successfully used for the determination of Zn, Cd, Pb, Cu and Hg, simultaneously in acetate buffer solution pH 4.5 using square wave anodic stripping voltammetry. It is possible to determine metals reoxidized at potentials more negative and more positive than Bi using in situ deposited BiF; reoxidation was studied by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The BiFmodified electrode was applied to analyse tap water. The influence of surface-active compounds, Triton X-100 and bovine serum albumin, on the stripping of these metals was investigated; Nafion coatings did not significantly improve the performance.

Carbon film disk electrodes with Nafion coatings have been characterized by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) with a view to a better understanding of their advantages and limitations in electroanalysis, particularly in anodic stripping voltammetry of metal ions. After initial examination by cyclic voltammetry, spectra were recorded over the full potential range in acetate buffer solution at the bare electrodes, electrodes electrochemically pretreated in acid solution, and Nafion-coated pretreated electrodes in the presence and absence of dissolved oxygen. EIS equivalent circuit analysis clearly demonstrated the changes between these electrode assemblies. In order to simulate anodic stripping voltammetry conditions, spectra were also obtained in the presence of cadmium and lead ions in solution at Nafion-coated electrodes, both after metal ion deposition and following re-oxidation. Permanent changes to the structure of the Nafion film occurred, which has implications for use of these electrode assemblies in anodic stripping voltammetry at relatively high trace metal ion concentrations.

Functionalised multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were cast on glassy carbon (GC) and carbon film electrodes (CFE), and were characterised electrochemically and applied in a glucose-oxidase-based biosensor. MWCNT-modified carbon film electrodes were then used to develop an alcohol oxidase (AlcOx) biosensor, in which AlcOx-BSA was cross-linked with glutaraldehyde and attached by drop-coating. The experimental conditions, applied potential and pH, for ethanol monitoring were optimised, and ethanol was determined amperometrically at −0.3 V vs. SCE at pH 7.5. Electrocatalytic effects of MWCNT were observed with respect to unmodified carbon film electrodes. The sensitivity obtained was 20 times higher at carbon film/MWCNT-based biosensors than without MWCNT.

The electrochemical noise (EN) characteristics of pure aluminium in unbuffered potassium chloride solution and with acetic acid/sodium acetate buffer at pH 5.4 and 4.3 have been analysed to throw light on the influence of pH and of the presence of buffer at the aluminium surface on chloride ion-induced corrosion. Comparison has been made with results obtained by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and quantitative deductions made concerning the values of the noise resistance and the magnitude of the electrochemical impedance. Deviations between results obtained by the two experimental techniques are discussed.