In-situ plated antimony film electrode for adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetric measurement of trace nickel

Antimony film electrode (SbFE) prepared in-situ is presented for the first time in combination with adsorptive cathodic stripping regime for measuring trace levels of Ni(II). Stabilization of Sb(III) in mildly alkaline solution (pH 9.0) was achieved through the addition of potassium sodium tartrate in the measurement solution, and as a complexing agent for Ni(II) dimethylglyoxime was selected. The SbFE exhibited excellent electroanalytical performance in the presence of dissolved oxygen with a calculated LoD of 0.11 mu g L-1 Ni(II) in combination with 60 s accumulation time and favorable linear response in the examined concentration range of 2-20 mu g L-1 (R-2=0.998) associated with only 20 s accumulation. The electrode revealed superior performance over its ex-situ prepared analogue and, furthermore, exhibited auspicious electroanalytical performance also under constant current chronopotentiometric conditions. (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.