This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting galley proof before it is published in its final citable form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.A c c e p t e d m a n u s c r i p t The oxidation increases the proportion of oxygen species such as hydroxyl, carbonyl, carboxyl and quinones at the electrode surface [14]. These are well known to influence the wettability, surface reactivity, porosity and conductivity of the electrode [1,7,8,10]. It can also have the beneficial effect of increasing the availability of edge sites as a consequence of exfoliation / fracturing process that can, as with eppg electrodes, serve to increase electrode sensitivity towards particular analytes.Laser patterning of carbon encapsulated composites have been shown to provide a quick and versatile method of producing electrode sensor assemblies but the ability of the laser to positively influence the surface characteristics of the underlying fibre has yet to be evaluated. The adoption of the electrochemical anodisation A c c e p t e d m a n u s c r i p t H.B Ezekiel et al Nottingham Trent University May 20083 approach requires the introduction of a separate/discrete step in the construction of the electrode sensor and it is clear that combining the patterning/activation process would represent a considerable simplification in the development process. In the present investigation, the use of laser ablation as a means of removing protective polymer encapsulants to expose and activate the sensor surface in a single step is assessed. Experimental DetailsElectrochemical measurements were conducted using a µAutolab type III computer controlled potentiostat (Eco-Chemie, Utrecht, The Netherlands) using a three electrode configuration consisting of a glassy carbon working electrode (3mm diameter, BAS Technicol, UK), a platinum wire counter electrode and a 3 M NaCl Ag Electrochemical anodisation of carbon fibres was conducted using the procedures described previously [23,24] and typically involved amperometric oxidation (+2V, 15 minutes) in 0.1M sodium hydroxide solution. Results and DiscussionCarbon fibres were encapsulated within a polyester resin laminate as described in previous work by the authors [23,24]. An electrode window was then created by rastering the laser across a pre-selected area of the polymer-fibre composite. This has the effect of removing the polymer and exposing the fibre which can, in principle, be 4 kinetics at a substrate that is largely basal plane in structure. The voltammogram recorded at the anodised fibre, in contrast, displays a well defined and easily quantifiable oxidation process. The change in profile is dramatic but is in keeping with previous work where electrochemical anodisation...