Voltammetric determination of iodide by use of an interdigitated microelectrode array

An interdigitated microelectrode array (IDA) sensor has been applied to the determination of iodide in mineral water. It is based on reversible charge transfer in the redox system I2/2I– at a platinum microelectrode. The analytical signal from the IDA system was obtained by use of a bipotentiostat in dual mode. One segment of the IDA (generator) was polarized to the limiting current for oxidation of iodide to iodine in 0.1 mol L–1 HClO4. The second segment (collector) was fixed at a potential value corresponding to the limiting current of iodine reduction. The geometrical arrangement of the IDA enables this transfer with high efficiency. Because the diffusion layer of both segments overlaps the iodide produced on the collector, the iodide diffuses back to the generator where it is reoxidized. Therefore, redox cycling will enhance the voltammetric signal of the IDA. The signal obtained with a vertically separated IDA was 20 times higher than that in the single mode. Because multiplication of the signal reduces the detection and determination limits, direct voltammetric determination of iodide in mineral water is possible.