Editorial: 100 years of polarography

Abstract

The young journal Electrochemical Science Advances copublished by Wiley-VCH and Chemistry Europe has had a great start. Its constitution reflects the increasing interest in electrochemical research and development. Its content is therefore devoted not only to fundamental research in electrochemistry but (importantly) to consequential applications like generation and storage of electricity, photovoltaics, corrosion, electrochemical sensors, analysers, electrochromism, (photo)electrocatalysis, electrosynthesis, photo- and spectroelectrochemistry, molecular electronics, and alternative electrodes etc.

The beginning of electrochemistry is dated about three centuries back, and its development is connected with the names like Luigi Galvani (1737–1798), Alessandro Volta (1745–1827), Humphry Davy (1778-1829), John F. Daniell (1790–1845), Michael Faraday (1791–1867), and many others. In the 19th century, electrochemistry was rather a part of physics connected with the general studies of electricity—at first its generation (Volta, Daniell), then its combination with biology (Galvani), later electrolyses and metal electrodeposition (Faraday), surface effects, and conductivity of electrolytes etc.

The current collection of this new journal is symbolically devoted to the 100th anniversary of polarography invented at the Charles University, Prague, by Jaroslav Heyrovský (Nobel Prize 1959). In February 1922, the first polarographic curve was recorded, where for the first time, the electrochemical current was plotted against potential (i-E curve) offering simultaneously qualitative as well as quantitative analytical data. Therefore, the year 1922 is considered as the true start of modern electrochemistry as a part of chemical sciences. The instrument itself—polarograph—was at that time the first fully automatic analytical device where after filling the cell, connecting electrodes, setting the conditions (scan rate, initial and final potential, sensitivity, drop size etc.) and switching ON the instrument, the whole experiment including photographic recording was running automatically.

After the initial applications in electroanalysis, the development continued toward organic electrosynthesis, redox characterization of new molecules, and investigation of the relationship between their structure and chemical properties. Because electrochemistry, as an alternative to the classic thermal redox chemistry, uses “pure” electrons generated or accepted by an electrode for reduction and oxidation reactions, respectively, it represents an approach and tool suitable for all branches of chemistry.

Although currently electrochemistry goes through enormous and fascinating development both in fundamental research and in applied sciences, still, the original polarography that means voltammetry utilizing mercury drop as the working electrode (today mostly computer-controlled) has and will have its permanent position among standard techniques of electrochemical research.

This current issue containing results of actual research should illustrate the rich crop of the growing tree of electrochemistry cultivated from polarographic roots.

The author declares no conflict of interest.