3D-Printed Low-Cost Spectroelectrochemical Cell for In Situ Raman Measurements

Raman spectroelectrochemistry is a powerful technique for characterizing structural changes of materials during electrochemical reactions and investigating the mechanism of film deposition and adsorption processes on the surfaces of electrodes. Moreover, in situ measurements enable identification of catalytic sites and reaction intermediates, which facilitates the comprehension of reaction mechanisms. The limitations of this technique include the high-cost and the complexity of the experimental arrangement required by commercial spectroelectrochemical cells (SEC). Thus, 3D-printing technology emerges as an excellent alternative for the production of SEC, with desirable shape, low-cost, and robustness in a short period of time. In this work, an SEC and a 3D-printed working electrode were fabricated from acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) and conductive graphene polylactic acid (PLA) filaments, respectively. The proposed SEC and the 3D-printed electrode were printed within 3.5 h with an estimated cost of materials of less than US $2. Then, the 3D-printed SEC and the electrode were used in a study of structural changes of Prussian blue according to different voltage bias.