Electrochemical response of small organic molecules at nickel–copper alloy electrodes

Voltammetric and chronoamperometric response characteristics are summarized for glucose, cysteine and glycine over the potential range 0.00–0.70 V versus SCE at NiCu alloy electrodes in 0.10 M NaOH. The response observed for all NixCu100−x electrodes tested (x=10, 25, 50, 75) is concluded to involve a redox-mediated mechanism. It is also observed that the overpotential for O2 evolution increases as a function of increasing x value in the alloy electrodes. Among the alloys tested, the Ni10Cu90 electrode yields a significantly higher response for glucose and glycine than that observed for Cu and Ni electrodes. However, the response for cysteine at the Ni10Cu90 electrode is similar to that observed at the Cu electrode.