Fundamental Principles of Organic Electrochemistry: Fundamental Aspects of Electrochemistry Dealing with Organic Molecules - Fundamentals and Applications of Organic Electrochemistry - page 3

2.1 Working Electrodes
Voltammetry is the group of electrochemical
techniques where current is studied as a
response to the potential of the working
electrode. Experiments are usually carried out
using a three-electrode system in which the
potential between the working and reference
electrodes is controlled and the current passes
between the working and auxiliary electrodes
[1]. Since the measured electrochemical
reaction occurs at the working electrode, the
selection of the working electrode material is
critical to the experimental success of
voltammetry.
The electrolytes can be used without
appreciable degradation only in limit ranges of
electrical potential. This potential window
should be as wide as possible to allow for the
greatest degree of studied sample
characterization [2]. The upper and lower
potential limits are determined not only by the
electrolytic solution but also by the electrode
material. In aqueous electrolytes, oxygen and
hydrogen evolution reactions limit the potential
window, and hence the window is usually
narrower than that in non-aqueous electrolytes.
To overcome this problem, cathode materials
with high hydrogen overpotential and anode
materials with high oxygen overpotential are
usually used as working electrode materials for
voltammetry in aqueous electrolytes. Platinum