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Exploration of defined 2-dimensional working electrode shapes through additive manufacturing
Alejandro Garcia-Miranda Ferrari1, Nicholas J Hurst1, Elena Bernalte1
1Faculty of Science and Engineering, Manchester Metropolitan University, Chester Street, M1 5GD, UK. c.banks@mmu.ac.uk.
The Analyst
|October 12, 2022
Summary
3D-printed carbon black/poly-lactic acid electrodes were tested for electrochemical performance. Triangular and square shapes showed faster electron transfer, with smaller electrode sizes improving reaction reversibility and active area.
Area of Science:
- Electrochemistry
- Materials Science
- Additive Manufacturing
Background:
- Carbon black (CB)/poly-lactic acid (PLA) composites offer potential for electrochemical applications.
- Additive manufacturing (3D-printing) provides a versatile platform for fabricating custom electrode geometries.
- Understanding the influence of electrode morphology and dimensions is crucial for optimizing electrochemical sensor performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the electrochemical response of various 3D-printed CB/PLA electrode shapes and dimensions.
- To evaluate the heterogeneous electron transfer (HET) kinetics and reaction reversibility.
- To demonstrate the application of these electrodes for detecting common analytes and real samples.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of disc, square, triangular, and star-shaped working electrodes (WEs) using 3D-printing with CB/PLA filament.
- Electrochemical characterization using hexaamineruthenium(III) chloride (RuHex) redox probe.
- Assessment of electrode performance for detecting ascorbic acid (AA), uric acid (UA), β-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH), and dopamine (DA).
- Analysis of real acetaminophen (ACOP) samples.
Main Results:
- Triangular and square electrodes exhibited faster HET rate constants (k°) compared to disc and star shapes.
- Electrochemical reaction reversibility decreased with increasing WE dimensions.
- The ratio of geometrical to electroactive area (%realarea) decreased as WE size increased.
- Successful detection of AA, UA, NADH, DA, and ACOP was demonstrated.
Conclusions:
- Additive manufacturing enables rapid prototyping of diverse electrochemical sensing platforms.
- Electrode shape and size significantly impact electrochemical performance, particularly HET rates and reaction reversibility.
- 3D-printed CB/PLA electrodes show promise for various electroanalytical applications.
- This methodology offers a versatile tool for electrochemists to design and optimize novel sensors.
