3D Printed Graphene Electrodes’ Electrochemical Activation

Abstract

Three-dimensional (3D) printing technologies are emerging as an important tool for the manufacturing of electrodes for various electrochemistry applications. It has been previously shown that metal 3D electrodes, modified with metal oxides, are excellent catalysts for various electrochemical energy and sensing applications. However, the metal 3D printing process, also known as selective laser melting, is extremely costly. One alternative to metal-based electrodes for the aforementioned electrochemical applications is graphene-based electrodes. Nowadays, the printing of polymer-/graphene-based electrodes can be carried out in a matter of minutes using cheap and readily available 3D printers. Unfortunately, these polymer/graphene electrodes exhibit poor electrochemical activity in their native state. Herein, we report on a simple activation method for graphene/polymer 3D printed electrodes by a combined solvent and electrochemical route. The activated electrodes exhibit a dramatic increase in electrochemical activity with respect to the [Fe­(CN)6]4–/3– redox couple and the hydrogen evolution reaction. Such in situ activation can be applied on-demand, thus providing a platform for the further widespread utilization of 3D printed graphene/polymer electrodes for electrochemistry.

Tunable Room‐Temperature Synthesis of ReS2 Bicatalyst on 3D‐ and 2D‐Printed Electrodes for Photo‐ and Electrochemical Energy Applications

“…3D‐printed carbon components have been tailored in different geometries for electrochemical energy production, conversion, and storage devices. [ 7,8 ] Furthermore, the heterogeneous electron transfer rates of the printed carbon electrodes can be increased by solvent activation in acetone, [ 9 ] dimethylformamide, [ 10,11 ] and simple thermal annealing process to reduce the amount of the insulating PLA, hence increases the active surface on the electrode. These conductive electrodes may serve as a platform to accommodate another active material.…”

A Fast and Simple Ozone‐mediated Method towards Highly Activated Screen Printed Carbon Electrodes as Versatile Electroanalytical Tools

“…It has also been documented that it is possible the electrochemical activation of other carbon surfaces such as carbon nanotube (CNT)/polymer composite and GPH electrodes . Commercial GPH‐ and CNT‐SPCEs were subjected to the O 3 ‐based activation treatment in 0.1 M NaOH and the amperometric signal to H 2 O 2 was evaluated.…”

Accounts in 3D‐Printed Electrochemical Sensors: Towards Monitoring of Environmental Pollutants

“…This approach takes advantage of the DMF ability to remove the insulating polymer from the electrode surface through a swelling process. [37] The best electrochemical performance was obtained by soaking the 3D-printed electrodes in the organic solvent for 10 min. [38] The main disadvantage of this approach is the wellknown adverse health effects of DMF derived from its liver toxicity.…”

“…Such dual activation treatments have demonstrated to improve even more the electrochemical response of 3D-printed BM devices, resulting in composite electrodes with characteristics similar to functionalized graphene surfaces. [37,50,51]…”