Plasma-treated gold microelectrodes for subsecond detection of Zn(II) with fast-scan cyclic voltammetry

Area of Science:

• Electrochemistry
• Neuroscience
• Materials Science

Background:

• Zinc (Zn(II)) detection using fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV) with carbon fiber microelectrodes (CFMEs) suffers from low sensitivity and instability due to Zn(II) plating.
• This plating phenomenon on CFMEs limits accurate Zn(II) quantification, particularly within complex biological environments like the brain.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel electrode material for enhanced sensitivity and stability in Zn(II) detection via FSCV.
• To investigate the efficacy of plasma-treated gold fiber microelectrodes (AuMEs) for overcoming the limitations of CFMEs in Zn(II) sensing.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication and characterization of oxygen plasma-treated gold fiber microelectrodes (AuMEs).
• Application of AuMEs for Zn(II) detection using fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV).
• Comparative analysis of Zn(II) detection performance between AuMEs and conventional CFMEs.

Main Results:

• Plasma treatment of gold fibers functionalized the surface with oxygen, enabling Zn(II) detection.
• AuMEs demonstrated significantly improved sensitivity and stability for Zn(II) detection compared to CFMEs.
• The developed AuMEs prevented irreversible Zn(II) plating, ensuring reliable electrochemical measurements.

Conclusions:

• Oxygen plasma treatment of gold microelectrodes provides a viable strategy for sensitive and stable Zn(II) detection.
• AuMEs represent a significant advancement for studying Zn(II) neurotransmission in vivo.
• This work offers a new tool for improved metallotransmitter detection in neuroscience research.