Developing a Conductive Polymer Electrochemically that Incorporates Mercury

This paper describes an undergraduate research laboratory assignment that involves the development of electrochemistry sensors that incorporates mercury. Students were required to utilize instrumental techniques such as X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy to determine the amount of mercury detected on the surface of the electrode. These instrumentation skills of electrochemistry (cyclic voltammetry) and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy required students to solve real world problems that are developed by the Project REEL, (Research Experiences to Enhance Learning). This research assignment introduces students to new instrumentation techniques while building the foundation for future analytical instrumentation that can be utilized for this lab.