Development of Pulse Polarography and Voltammetry

Abstract

Stepwise changes in potential at a dropping mercury electrode were first employed by Kemula in 1930 while doing postdoctoral work at Charles University. Subsequently Ishibashi and Fujinaga in Japan pursued a line of development based also on mechanical switching of potential, while in England Barker and coworkers built the first electronic instruments. The advent of solid-state electronics made possible broad commercial development of instruments which in turn extended pulse techniques to other electrodes and stimulated applications. Computer- and microprocessor-controlled instruments have expanded the use of pulse techniques and encouraged development of specialized waveforms.