Computational fluid dynamic model and dimensional analysis of diffusion, convection and migration processes in electrochemical sensors

Electrochemical amperometric transducers monitor the electric current through the electrochemical cell and measure the concentration of biological or chemical available species. Experimental work in the field of electrochemical biosensors is extremely interesting, yet the support of these results by theoretical modeling is not well investigated. Using theoretical modeling to understand the physical complex phenomena seems to be challenging and might have significant implications on the optimal design of electrochemical sensors. The present study presents a unique approach for investigating the three processes of mass transfer (diffusion, convection and migration) in the vicinity of an electrochemical sensor and the adjacent layer of the electrode. A 3-D model of the electrochemical cylindrical flow cell with computational fluid dynamic simulations of time dependent diffusion, convection and migration are used. The representation of the physical phenomena by the numerical models makes it possible to predict the time-dependent behavior of the system.