Fused deposition modeling (FDM) based 3D printing of microelectrodes and multi-electrode probes

• Published in: Electrochimica acta 2021-01, Vol.365, p.137279, Article 137279
• Main Authors: Helú, Mariela Alicia Brites, Liu, Liang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 3D printing; Analytical chemistry; Chemical and Process Engineering; Chemical Sciences; Copper; Deposition; Electrical measurement; Electrodes; Engineering Sciences; Fused deposition modeling; Gold; Hydrogen peroxide; Micro and nanotechnologies; Microelectrode fabrication; Microelectrodes; Microelectronics; Multi-electrode probe for electroanalysis; or physical chemistry; Platinum; Rapid prototyping; Silver chloride; Theoretical and; Three dimensional models; Three dimensional printing
• ISSN: 0013-4686; 1873-3859
• DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2020.137279

•Metal/carbon microelectrodes and multi-electrode probes are 3D printed.•The FDM based 3D printing protocol reduces facility cost and human intervention.•Microelectrodes of diameter below 5 µm with good sealing are fabricated.•Multi-electrode probe shows good performance in sensing pH and H2O2.•The electrodes are chemically and mechanically stable over time. Electrode fabrication is one of the basic practices for electrochemists. Especially, microelectrodes are generally known as “hand-made” and their fabrication is often like an art. In this work, we report a new protocol for fabricating microelectrodes and multi-electrode probes based on recently matured 3D Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) printing technique. The general concept is to print half of the insulating body in PETG, insert the (etched) metal or carbon wire(s) in the channel(s), and resume printing to complete the whole electrode. The printed electrodes are then sealed by heating and mechanically polished before use. The process requires only low-cost non-specialized facilities that can be easily equipped even in teaching laboratories. Single microelectrodes of Pt, C, Au, Ag, W and Cu with diameter below 5 µm are fabricated and examined by cyclic voltammetry and scanning electron microscopy. Furthermore, a multi-electrode probe consisting of W, Cu, Ag (oxidized to Ag/AgCl) and Pt is also printed and demonstrated for pH (potentiometric) and H2O2 (amperometric) sensing applications. [Display omitted]