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Updated: Mar 25, 2026
Simple Methods for the Preparation of Non-noble Metal Bulk-electrodes for Electrocatalytic Applications
Published on: June 21, 2017
Can the mechanical activation (polishing) of screen-printed electrodes enhance their electroanalytical response?
Loanda R Cumba1, Christopher W Foster2, Dale A C Brownson2
1Faculdade de Engenharia de Ilha Solteira UNESP - Universidade Estadual Paulista, Departamento de Física e Química. Av. Brasil Centro, 56 CEP 15385-000, Ilha Solteira, SP, Brazil and Faculty of Science and Engineering, School of Science and the Environment, Division of Chemistry and Environmental Science, Manchester Metropolitan University, Chester Street, Manchester M1 5GD, UK. c.banks@mmu.ac.uk.
Abstract:
The mechanical activation (polishing) of screen-printed electrodes (SPEs) is explored and shown to exhibit an improved voltammetric response (in specific cases) when polished with either commonly available alumina slurry or diamond spray. Proof-of-concept is demonstrated for the electrochemical sensing of nitrite where an increase in the voltammetric current is found using both polishing protocols, exhibiting an improved limit of detection (3σ) and a two-fold increase in the electroanalytical sensitivity compared to the respective un-polished counterpart. It is found that mechanical activation/polishing increases the C/O ratio which significantly affects inner-sphere electrochemical probes only (whereas outer-sphere systems remain unaffected). Mechanical activation/polishing has the potential to be a simple pre-treatment technique that can be extended and routinely applied towards other analytes for an observable improvement in the electroanalytical response.
