Preparation and characterization of carbon paste micro-electrode based on carbon nanoparticles

The present paper demonstrates the preparation and characterization of micro-electrodes based on carbon paste which is composed of carbon nanoparticles with an average diameter of 30 nm and binding oil. The carbon paste electrode material is encased in pulled glass capillaries ranging in diameter from several tens down to less than ten micro-meters (r=4.5 microm). Manipulation of the carbon paste micro-electrode (CPME) was accomplished via newly developed piston-driven system which construction and related problems are presented. Several parameters influencing the CPME performance including carbon paste composition and its electrochemical activation/preconditioning were investigated. Basic electrochemical behavior and properties were examined using typical redox system, i.e. potassium hexacyanoferrate. Applicability of the proposed carbon paste micro-electrode is illustrated by measuring some potentially interesting organic and inorganic analytes such as dopamine, ascorbic acid and selected heavy metals.