Electrochemistry of organic conducting salt electrodes. A unified mechanistic description

Electrocatalytic mechanisms at organic salt conducting (OCS) paste electrodes are studied. A wide behavioral spectrum is observed depending on the analyte, the OCS, the applied potential, and the electrolyte composition. If E{sub 0}{prime}{sub analyte} > E{sub 0}{prime}{sub donor/acceptor} or if indirect, mediated pathways aren`t kinetically viable, the electrodes behave like metal electrodes. Electroxidation of glucose oxidase occurs via a homogeneous mechanism on both electrode materials presented. Surface redox phenomena differ considerably from bulk or lattice redox phenomena. In bioelectrocatalysis experiments, this {open_quotes}background{close_quotes} generation of soluble mediators is the source of the homogeneous ones. 41 refs., 16 figs.