Application of 3D Printers to Fabricate Low-Cost Electrode Components for Undergraduate Experiments and Research

Many electroanalytical techniques utilize three-electrode systems consisting of reference, counter, and working electrodes. These electrodes are often expensive when purchased commercially, making low-cost alternatives a vital area of research. Cheaper alternatives have been proposed; however, they often require time-consuming assembly techniques or materials that are difficult to work with. This technology report outlines the production and testing of an Ag/AgCl reference electrode, a platinum (Pt) counter electrode, and a carbon paste working electrode. These electrodes have been designed using 3D printing technology, which has become increasingly more available at educational institutions. By utilizing 3D printing technology, these adaptable designs can be produced quickly and at a fraction of the cost of commercially available electrodes. The lab-made Ag/AgCl reference and Pt counter electrodes were tested via cyclic voltammetry (CV) experiments with orange juice and ruthenium hexaamine as analytes. The results obtained were statistically similar in all obtained measurements. The carbon paste working electrode was tested in potassium ferricyanide for both variable scan rate and concentration responses. In these tests, the lab-made electrode performance compared favorably to commercial electrodes. This demonstrates the viability of our method in the production of low-cost, reliable electrodes that can be used in a variety of electroanalytical experiments.

Automated summary

This report outlines the production and testing of low-cost and reliable electrodes using 3D printing technology. The lab-made Ag/AgCl reference electrode, Pt counter electrode, and carbon paste working electrode were shown to be comparable to commercial electrodes in performance.