An innovative electro-corrosion recess creation technique for improved microelectrode fabrication

A new and simple electrochemical (corrosion) method for recess creation for the fabrication of metal and metal-metal oxide microelectrodes has been developed. Controlled recess was created in low melting point alloy (LMA)-filled micropipettes using slightly acidic 1-3 M ZnCl2 as the electro-corrosion solution. The current was applied from a 3 V DC source. The recess length in the LMA-filled micropipette can be manipulated as needed for a specific microelectrode by varying the electro-corrosion time. The present method is expected to make microelectrode fabrication a less tedious process. Dissolved oxygen, oxidation-reduction potential and pH microelectrodes have been made using the present method and the microelectrode characteristics were found to be in conformity with those reported by other researchers.