Home
Resources
Publications
Effect of Pre-Treatment on the Surface and Electrochemical Properties of Screen-Printed Carbon Paste Electrodes

Effect of Pre-Treatment on the Surface and Electrochemical Properties of Screen-Printed Carbon Paste Electrodes

G Cui, J H Yoo, J S Lee, J Yoo, J H Uhm, G S Cha, H Nam

Analyst. 2001 Aug;126(8):1399-403.

PMID: 11534613

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.

Chemicals Related in the Paper:

Catalog Number	Product Name	Structure	CAS Number	Price
AP16920562	Potassium hexachloroiridate(IV)		16920-56-2	Price

As a specialist in analytical chemical Products, Alfa Chemistry offers consumers a wealth of raw materials and a full range of technologies and services.

QUICK LINKS

HEADQUARTERS

Tel:

Fax:

Email: