Radial electrochemical flow cell for on-line coupling with mass spectrometry: Theory and electrooxidation of dimethylaminomethyl ferrocene

A new, radial, miniature, three-electrode flow cell is introduced. The cell is configuration is most suitable for on-line electrochemistry - mass spectrometry since it is characterized by low resistive losses, high conversion efficiency, and isolation of the counter electrode reaction by-products from the product stream reaching the MS. A mathematical model describing convection diffusion in the radial cell is developed. Cell's performance can be predicted over a wide parametric range by a simple mathematical expression which converges to the Levich equation under low conversion conditions. The performance of the cell is demonstrated by studies of dimethylaminomethyl ferrocene (DMAMF) oxidation which is a simple single electron charge transfer reaction and allows validation of the mathematical model. The theoretical predictions of the model were in agreement with the results of on-line electrochemistry - mass spectrometry studies of DMAMF.