Effect of pre-treatment on the surface and electrochemical properties of screen-printed carbon paste electrodes

Abstract

The effect of various electrochemical pre-treatment methods on the surface and electrochemical properties of screen-printed carbon paste electrodes (SPCE) prepared with three different commercial products was examined. It was observed that a positively charged redox couple, e.g., hexaammineruthenium(III), exhibited quasi-reversible behavior at the untreated SPCE. However, the cyclic voltammograms (CVs) of the SPCE prepared with general-purpose carbon inks did not exhibit clear redox peaks to other representative redox couples [e.g., hexacyanoferrate(III), hexachloroiridate(IV), dopamine, and hydroquinone] without activation. Electrochemical pre-treatment methods were sought in four different aqueous solutions, i.e., sulfuric acid, potassium chloride, sodium hydrogencarbonate, and sodium carbonate, applying various activation potentials. It was found that the pre-treatment procedure in saturated Na2CO3 solution at 1.2 V provides a mild and effective condition for activating the SPCE. By measuring the water contact angles at the SPCE surfaces and recording their SEM images, it was confirmed that the electrochemical pre-treatment effectively removes the organic binders from the surface carbon particles. A prolonged period of activation (> 5 min) or the use of high potentials (> 1.2 V) increased the capacitance of the electrode over 20 microF cm(-2). The pre-treated SPCE behaved like a random array microelectrode, exhibiting a sigmoidal-shaped CV at a slow scan rate. The short pre-anodization method in Na2CO3 solution was generally applicable to most SPCE prepared with general-purpose carbon inks.

Screen‐Printed Carbon Electrodes Modified with Cellobiose Dehydrogenase: Amplification Factor for Catechol vs. Reversibility of Ferricyanide

“…High curing temperatures in the screen-printed fabrication process also resulted into an increased heterogeneous reaction rate at some types of SPCEs. Extension of the pretreatment method already mentioned [4], pre-anodization in saturated Na 2 CO 3 solution at 1.2 V seems to be mild and effective [6].…”

“…Cyclic voltammetry is a simple method to rapidly determine electrochemical characteristics of SPCEs [4,6,9]. Thus, this method should be useful to directly examine the capability of the electrode to immobilize enzyme that can work in an effective way in the communication with the electrode surface.…”

Rapid Determination of Ascorbic Acid in Fresh Vegetables and Fruits with Electrochemically Treated Screen-Printed Carbon Electrodes

“…15 The electrode 4.0cm×1.2cm×0.05cm (length×width×height) consists of three main parts which are a carbon counter electrode, a silver pseudo-reference electrode and a carbon working electrode. The carbon working surface is 4 mm in diameter.…”

“…The carbon working surface is 4 mm in diameter. The Ag/AgCl reference electrode was formed by applying 0.3 M FeCl 3 solution on the silver electrode for 10 min [15]. The fabricated SPCEs were first sequentially sonicated in ethanol, 3.0 M HNO 3 , 1.0 M KOH, and distilled water each for 3 min., and then typical electrochemical pretreatment of SPCEs was carried out by applying +2.5 V for 60 s in 1.0 M NaOH (vs. Ag/AgCl reference electrode on the same SPCE).…”

A novel disposable electrochemical microcell: construction and characterization

“…Various studies have addressed the problem of low electrochemical reactivity when some commercial inks are used and several pre-treatment procedures are suggested to improve significantly the electrochemical behavior. [11][12][13] The modification of the SPCE surface by metal or specific films has been also reported as an attempt to enhance the electron transfer reaction at the electrode/solution interface. [14][15][16][17][18] In fact, patterned electrodes as SPE with gold or platinum films, denominated Ceramic Patterned Electrodes, can be acquired commercially at 30 dollars each.…”