page_title: UV-Vis absorption spectroelectrochemistry
section_title: Parallel or long optical path-length configuration
hierarchical_section_title: UV-Vis absorption spectroelectrochemistry / Configuration / Parallel or long optical path-length configuration
caption_attribution_description: Español: Parallel configuration scheme
context_page_description: Ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroelectrochemistry is a multiresponse technique that analyzes the evolution of the absorption spectra in UV-Vis regions during an electrode process. This technique provides information from an electrochemical and spectroscopic point of view. In this way, it enables a better perception about the chemical system of interest. On one hand, molecular information related to the electronic levels of the molecules is obtained from the evolution of the spectra. On the other hand, kinetic and thermodynamic information of the processes is obtained from the electrochemical signal.
  UV-Vis absorption SEC allows qualitative analysis, through the characterization of the different present compounds, and quantitative analysis, by determining the concentration of the analytes of interest. Furthermore, it helps to determine different electrochemical parameters such as absorptivity coefficients, standard potentials, diffusion coefficients, electronic transfer rate constants, etc. Throughout history, reversible processes have been studied with colored reagents or electrolysis products.
context_section_description: The parallel configuration or long optical path-length arrangement only provides information about the spectral changes that occur in the solution adjacent to the working electrode surface, improving the sensitivity to soluble compounds because the length of the optical pathway can be as longer as the length of the electrode.
  The light beam travels parallel to the working electrode surface, sampling the first micrometers of the solution adjacent to the working electrode surface, and collecting the information on the spectrometer. 
  
  Usually, aligning light beams has been a difficult task. However, simple alternatives have been developed to perform measurements in parallel configuration. There are several advantages in this configuration respect to the normal one: better sensitivity, lower detection limits; optically transparent electrodes are not required; and the spectral changes are related only to the diffusion layer.
caption: Parallel configuration scheme
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