Abstract: An electrode for use in analytical voltammetry, wherein the electrode has a uniform composition and contains an alloy in a solid state, the alloy containing a pure metal or compound having a low overvoltage for hydrogen and a few percent of at least one second metal or compound, wherein the electrode is a non-toxic electrode with a sufficiently high overvoltage for hydrogen allowing detection of a metal or compound to be detected. Also provided is an apparatus containing the electrode for performing analytical voltammetry involving a redox reaction at an electrode surface, and a method for increasing the utility of voltammetric analyses, by conducting the analyses with an electrode system containing the electrode.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for improving the sensitivity in measurements when performing electrochemical analysis containing low metal concentrations and a means for performing electrochemical analysis. Ordinary stirring has to be avoided during the voltammetric scanning due to the low reproducibility when stirring takes place. A sound exposure, however, can be performed during the entire measurement, increasing the sensitivity. Further it is concluded that sound exposure close to the resonant frequency, has improvement effects at least comparable to stirring, and thus all mechanical stirring can be avoided. It is found that audible sound in the low frequency range, around 100 Hz is very effective for this purpose, with an increase of the analytical signal up to about 300%, without any significant increase in the corresponding noise level.