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Updated: Jul 25, 2026

AC Electrokinetic Phenomena Generated by Microelectrode Structures
Published on: July 28, 2008
Harmonic distortion caused by electrode polarisation
M Moussavi1, H P Schwan, H H Sun
1Institute of Biomedical Engineering & Science, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104.
Abstract:
Steady-state measurements of the electrical properties of electrodes immersed in physiological saline were taken with small- and large-amplitude sinusoidal voltages (30 m V-1 V) in the frequency range 0.2 mHz-2 Hz. Impedance magnitude and phase, and the first four Fourier series coefficients of the polarised current were measured. The dependence of the polarisation admittance on input current intensity was modelled with the linear relationship proposed by Schwan. This model predicts harmonics in the non-linear range for AC overpotentials up to several hundred millivolts. Observed values deviated from theoretical values. Reasons for such deviations are discussed. The study of harmonic distortion appears to be a useful tool to monitor and predict the non-linear behaviour of the interface and other dielectric phenomena.
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