Characterization and fabrication of disposable screen printed microelectrodes

We report the fabrication of disposable and flexible screen printed microelectrodes which are characterised with microscopy and cyclic voltammetry. These new type of screen printed electrochemical platforms consist of micro-sized graphite typically with radii of 60 to 100 microns are defined by an inert dielectric. The advantage of this type of electrochemical sensing platform is that each microelectrode is disposable and cost effective and thus does not require extensive cleaning or electrode pre-treatment between measurements. Prior to measurements the screen printed microelectrode needs only to be calibrated with a suitable redox probe, as is typically the case with microelectrodes. We show proof of concept that the screen printed microelectrodes are advantageous for electro-analytical measurements with the example of determination of lead via cathodic stripping voltammetry. The use of graphite screen printed microelectrodes allows comparable detection limits to that obtained in the literature at insonated boron doped diamond electrodes, without the need for power ultrasound - which otherwise limits the widespread applicability and ease of measurement. (c) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.