In a new experiment for the physical chemistry laboratory, cyclic voltammetry and chronocoulometry
are used to measure the diffusion coefficients and half-wave potentials for ferrocene (Fc) in
three micellar media (dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, and
sodium dodecylsulfate) and a simple supporting electrolyte (tetrabutylammonium bromide). The
experiment presents an excellent opportunity for students to appreciate the use of surfactants
as solubilizing media and to observe the effects of micelle size and charge on both the diffusion
coefficient of the ferrocene molecule and the E1/2 of the Fc+/Fc couple.
Supplement
Determination of Diffusion Coefficients, experimental methods, Pre-Lab
Exercise, and Data Analysis are included.
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