Silver nanoparticles were synthesised by a chemical reduction process in order to produce an aqueous colloidal dispersion. The resulting colloids were then characterised by a combination of UV-Vis spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy and the nanoparticles were found to have an average diameter of 20–22 nm. The Ag/polymer nanocomposites were then applied to platinum interdigital electrodes as sensor coatings and the capability of the resulting sensor as a humidity detector investigated. With the application of 1 V, a current developed which was found to be directly proportional to humidity levels. The sensor gives a reversible, selective and rapid response which is proportional to levels of humidity within the range of 10% RH to 60% RH. An investigation into the mechanism of the sensor's response was conducted and the response was found to correlate well with a second order Langmuir adsorption model.

Salts of hexacyanoferrate II/III anions have been widely used as redox couple probe molecules to determine the characteristics of electrode surfaces. Examples include the assessment of electrocatalysts for energy applications and electrocatalysts for the detection of biological or chemical species, as well as the determination of electrochemically active surface areas. An examination of the electrochemical literature, based largely on cyclic voltammetric investigations, reveals a wide range of peak separation and/or heterogeneous electron transfer rate constants, classified sometimes as inner or outer sphere electron transfer processes. Originally developed for the mechanistic interpretation of inorganic transition metal compounds in solution, this terminology has since been extended to account for heterogeneous electron transfer occurring at electrodes. In the case of the hexacyanoferrate II/III anions, there can be a number of reasons why it sometimes behaves as an outer sphere probe and at other times displays inner sphere electron transfer characteristics. After examining some of the structural and chemical properties of the hexacyanoferrate II/III species, the methods used to determine such classifications are described. The most common method involves measuring peak-to-peak separation in a cyclic voltammogram to ascertain a heterogeneous rate constant, but it has inherent flaws. This paper reviews the reasons for the classification disparity, including the effects of various oxygen surface species, the influence of organic surface films, the nature of the cation counter-ion, surface adsorption and surface hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity. Other surface interactions may also take place, such as those occurring with Au corrosion or pH effects. These can impact the electrical double layer and thus may affect the electron transfer process. Consequently, it is recommended that hexacyanoferrate II/III should be considered a multi-sphere or alternatively a surface-sensitive electron transfer species.