Voltammetry-100 Years On

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the first paper related to development of polarography published by Heyrovsky in 1922 [1]. In 1959, Jaroslav Heyrovsky has been awarded as a first electrochemist with Nobel Prize for the development of polarography. Polarography is an iconic electrochemical technique that is recognized as a predecessor of nowadays modern voltammetric techniques. Since the introduction of polarography in 1922, this technique evolved rapidly in various directions. Initially, the highly toxic mercury working electrode used in polarography was replaced by solid type of working electrodes, thus paving way to the development of voltammetry. Moreover, by using various modifications of the applied potential, the time of analysis has been rapidly shortened, while the sensitivity of novel voltammetric techniques has been increased dramatically, making possible to detect analytes even in sub-nanomolar concentrations [2-4]. Whenever one talks about electrochemistry, one intuitively creates image on processes of corrosion. Now it is well understood that majority of reactions taking place under physiological conditions are also of electrochemical nature. If there is an experimental protocol to measure the energy of electrons/charge exchanged between two conjoined systems in processes taking place in living systems, then it will be possible to get relevant information about enzymes activity, drug-drug interactions, ion transfer across cell membranes, mechanism of action of given biochemical systems and many more. The aim of this talk is to highlight some of the most important achievements of voltammetry and its applications in bioelectrochemistry, in development of biosensors, in kinetic characterizations of various chemical interactions, in ion transfer across liquid-liquid interfaces, in development of bio-fuel cells, in enzymatic redox chemistry and many more. While hints are given to some of the most important theoretical achievements of voltametric techniques, short advice to get better communication between the theoretical and experimental electrochemists is also presented. Since major role of voltammetry is recognized in constructing enzymatic and non-enzymatic biosensors, some of the major achievements and several drawbacks of applying voltametric techniques in designing sensors are discussed. The nanomaterials are almost inevitable part in majority of voltammetric experiments in last 20 years, and short part of the talk is dedicated to the role of nanostructures in voltammetry. Because the scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) is recognized as a most promising instrumental electrochemical system that can get voltammetry a step closer to probe even electrochemistry of single cells, some aspects of this technique are also shortly outlined. In the end, a series of directions in which voltammetry will develop in the coming years are also mentioned. The entire talk is designed in a way to motivate younger students to get more intensively involved in doing scienc