Elektroanalytika

Elektroanalytika, known in English as electroanalytical chemistry, is a branch of chemistry that uses electrical measurements to study chemical systems. It investigates how electrical potentials, currents, and impedances correlate with chemical composition and reaction kinetics. The field combines principles of electrochemistry with advanced instrumentation to provide sensitive, selective, and rapid analytical methods.

The primary techniques in elektroanalytika include voltammetry (such as cyclic, differential pulse, and square-wave), amperometry, potentiometry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Each method offers distinct advantages: voltammetry excels at detecting trace species, potentiometry provides quantitative ion concentration measurements, and impedance spectroscopy analyzes interfacial processes. Modern developments have integrated microelectrodes, screen-printed electrodes, and nanomaterials to enhance performance and enable on-site or portable analysis.

Historically, the foundation of electroanalytical chemistry was laid in the late nineteenth century with the invention of the galvanometer and early studies by scientists like Avogadro and Faraday. During the twentieth century, advances such as the Debye–Hückel theory and electrode kinetic characterization by Butler and Volmer expanded theoretical understanding. In recent decades, the field has intersected with bioanalysis, environmental monitoring, and pharmaceutical quality control, offering tools for detecting heavy metals, pesticides, and biologically relevant molecules.

Key challenges remain in extending detection limits, reducing interferences, and standardizing electrode calibration. Emerging areas like integration with microfluidics and wireless telemetry promise to broaden the applicability of elektroanalytika in real-time, in-field diagnostics.