Electrochemical detection method for catalytic reaction product, electrochemical detection apparatus and transducer

A method of electrochemically detecting a plurality of catalytic reaction products that are generated by a plurality of catalytic reactions progressing each in a plurality of first lumps of liquids, each of the plurality of catalytic reaction products being dissolved in corresponding one of the plurality of first lumps of liquids, the method comprising:

• containing the plurality of first lumps of liquids and a second lump of liquid in a liquid bath so that the second lump of liquid is in contact with each of the plurality of first lumps of liquids forming liquid-liquid interfaces thereby, the second lump of liquid not dissolving any of the plurality of the catalytic reaction products, wherein a plurality of retaining structures that each retain the plurality of the first lumps of liquids are provided in the liquid bath, each of the plurality of retaining structures being permeable to corresponding one of the plurality of the first lumps of liquids;
• arranging a plurality of working electrodes each in the plurality of the first lumps of liquids;
• arranging a counter electrode in the second lump of liquid;
• and
• detecting the plurality of catalytic reaction products by measuring a plurality of currents each of which flows through a corresponding one of the plurality of working electrodes by an oxidation or reduction reaction of a corresponding one of the plurality of the catalytic reaction products at the corresponding one of the plurality of working electrodes;
• wherein the plurality of catalytic reactions progress and said step of detecting the plurality of catalytic reaction products is performed in a state in which the plurality of the first lumps of liquids are each retained by the plurality of the retaining structures.

An apparatus for electrochemically detecting a catalytic reaction product that is generated by a catalytic reaction, the apparatus comprising:

• a liquid bath having an internal space and a bottom surface thereof;
• a first lump of liquid located at the bottom surface of the liquid bath, the catalytic reaction being able to progress in the first lump of liquid;
• a second lump of liquid which covers the first lump of liquid forming a liquid-liquid surface therebetween in the internal space of the liquid bath;
• a working electrode provided in the internal space such that the working electrode is in contact with the first lump of liquid but not in contact with the second lump of liquid;
• a counter electrode being placed in the second lump of liquid in the internal space such that the counter electrode is not in contact with the first lump of liquid;
• and
• a retaining structure disposed in a portion of the internal space which the working electrode faces, the retaining structure being permeable to the first lump of liquid, wherein the first lump of liquid is retained by the retaining structure.

An apparatus for electrochemically detecting a plurality of catalytic reaction products that are generated by a plurality of catalytic reactions, the apparatus comprising:

• a liquid bath having an internal space and a bottom surface thereof;
• a plurality of lumps of aqueous solutions each located at the bottom surface of the liquid bath, each of the plurality of catalytic reactions being able to progress in corresponding one of the plurality of lumps aqueous solutions;
• a second lump of liquid which covers each of the plurality of lumps of aqueous solutions forming a plurality of liquid-liquid surfaces between the second lump of liquid and each of the plurality of lumps of aqueous solutions in the internal space of the liquid bath;
• a plurality of working electrodes provided in the internal space such that each of the plurality of working electrodes is in contact with corresponding one of the plurality of lumps of aqueous solutions but not in contact with the second lump of liquid;
• a counter electrode being placed in the second lump of liquid in the internal space such that the counter electrode is not in contact with any one of the plurality of lumps of aqueous solutions;
• and
• a plurality of retaining structures each of which is disposed in a respective portion of the internal space, the respective portion of the internal space being faced by corresponding one of the plurality of working electrodes respectively, the plurality of retaining structures being each permeable to the aqueous solutions, wherein the plurality of lumps of aqueous solutions is retained by the plurality of retaining structures, respectively.