Interface between Two Immiscible Electrolyte Solutions Electrodes for Chemical Analysis

Abstract

The interface between two immiscible electrolyte solutions (ITIES) plays vital roles in various fields, such as neuroscience, environmental science, analytical chemistry, separation, catalysis, and nanoparticle synthesis. ITIES emerges as a unique approach in chemical analysis due to its sensitivity to both redox-active and redox-inactive analytes. Neurotransmitters, metal ions, drug molecules, and other complex molecules such as proteins have been detected using ITIES. The detection of redox-inactive species at the ITIES has opened a door to understanding a wide range of complex systems that are less suited to probing by solid electrodes. In this feature article, we present the history of electrochemistry at the ITIES; charge transfer reactions, thermodynamics, and kinetics at the ITIES; electrode-solution interfacial structure; and a diverse range of applications enabled by ITIES.