Modified microelectrodes with renewable surface and method of making same
First Claim
1. A renewable composite microelectrode for electrochemical applications comprising:
- (a) at least one elongated conductive substrate having a cross section of less than 500 micrometers and selected from the group of conductive fibers and metallic wires, said substrate having a tip at one end thereof;
(b) an initial surface coating extending along at least a portion of the length of said substrate from said tip and containing a modifier providing to said electrode distinctive properties selected from the group consisting of electroactivity, inclusion, adsorption, acidic/basic, complexing/chelating and electrocatalysis, said coating beinga homogeneous layer of 1-99 percent by weight of a polymeric matrix and 1-99 percent by weight of said modifier dispersed therein; and
(c) an electronically resistive polymer coating superposed thereon, said electrode at said tip of said substrate being free from said resistive coating and said initial surface coating being exposed at said tip, said electrode being renewable by removing a portion thereof at the tip of said substrate to expose a fresh portion of said initial coating at said tip.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Renewable composite microelectrodes for electrochemical applications are formed by an initial coating on an elongated conductive substrate of less than 500 micrometers over at least a portion of its length with a modifier composition, and a superposed coating of electronically resistive polymer. The initial coating is exposed only at the tip portion of the microelectrode. The initial coating may be an absorbed layer of the modifier, a homogeneous layer of a polymeric matrix with the modifier dispersed therein, or a layer of a polymer with a modifier in its chain. The modifier provides distinctive properties to the surface of the electrode which may be electroactivity, inclusion, acidic/basic, complexing/chelating or electrocatalysis. The microelectrode will normally be used with only the tip portion thereof immersed in the solution, and it may be renewed by removing the contaminated tip portion.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A renewable composite microelectrode for electrochemical applications comprising:
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(a) at least one elongated conductive substrate having a cross section of less than 500 micrometers and selected from the group of conductive fibers and metallic wires, said substrate having a tip at one end thereof; (b) an initial surface coating extending along at least a portion of the length of said substrate from said tip and containing a modifier providing to said electrode distinctive properties selected from the group consisting of electroactivity, inclusion, adsorption, acidic/basic, complexing/chelating and electrocatalysis, said coating being a homogeneous layer of 1-99 percent by weight of a polymeric matrix and 1-99 percent by weight of said modifier dispersed therein; and (c) an electronically resistive polymer coating superposed thereon, said electrode at said tip of said substrate being free from said resistive coating and said initial surface coating being exposed at said tip, said electrode being renewable by removing a portion thereof at the tip of said substrate to expose a fresh portion of said initial coating at said tip. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. In the method of making renewable composite microelectrodes for electrochemical applications, the steps comprising:
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(a) selecting an elongated conductive substrate having a cross section of less than 500 micrometers and of the group consisting of conductive fibers and wires, said substrate having a tip at one end thereof; (b) providing an initial surface coating extending along at least a portion of the length of said substrate from said tip to form an electrode, said coating containing a modifier providing to said electrode distinctive properties selected from the group consisting of electroactivity, inclusion, adsorption, acidic/basic, complexing/chelating and electrocatalysis, said initial coating being formed by coating said substrate with a homogeneous layer comprising a mixture of 1-99 percent by weight of a polymeric matrix and 1-99 percent by weight of said modifier dispersed therein; and (c) superposing on said initial coating an electronically resistive polymer coating; and (d) removing said conductive polymer at the tip of said substrate to expose said initial coating at the tip of said substrate. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A renewable composite microelectrode for electrochemical applications comprising:
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(a) at least one elongated conductive substrate having a cross section of less than 500 micrometers and selected from the group of conductive fibers and metallic wires, said substrate having a tip at one end thereof; (b) an initial surface coating extending along at least a portion of the length of said substrate from said tip and containing a modifier providing to said electrode distinctive properties selected from the group consisting of electroactivity, inclusion, adsorption, acidic/basic, complexing/chelating and electrocatalysis, said coating being an adsorbed layer of said modifier; and (c) an electronically resistive polymer coating superposed thereon, said electrode at said tip of said substrate being free from said resistive coating and said initial surface coating being exposed at said tip, said electrode being renewable by removing a portion thereof at the tip of said substrate to expose a fresh portion of said initial coating at said tip. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A renewable composite microelectrode for electrochemical applications comprising:
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(a) at least one elongated conductive substrate having a cross section of less than 500 micrometers and selected from the group of conductive fibers and metallic wires, said substrate having a tip at one end thereof; (b) an initial surface coating extending along at least a portion of the length of said substrate from said tip and containing a modifier providing to said electrode distinctive properties selected from the group consisting of electroactivity, inclusion, adsorption, acidic/basic, complexing/chelating and electrocatalysis, said coating being a polymer having a polymer chain containing said modifier in the polymer chain; and (c) an electronically resistive polymer coating superposed thereon, said electrode at said tip of said substrate being free from said resistive coating and said initial surface coating being exposed at said tip, said electrode being renewable by removing a portion thereof at the tip of said substrate to expose a fresh portion of said initial coating at said tip. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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25. In the method of making renewable composite microelectrodes for electrochemical applications, the steps comprising:
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(a) selecting an elongated conductive substrate having a cross section of less than 500 micrometers and of the group consisting of conductive fibers and wires, said substrate having a tip at one end thereof; (b) providing an initial surface coating extending along at least a portion of the length of said substrate from said tip to form an electrode, said coating containing a modifier providing to said electrode distinctive properties selected from the group consisting of electroactivity, inclusion, adsorption, acidic/basic, complexing/chelating and electrocatalysis, said initial coating being formed by absorbing said modifier onto said substrate; (c) superposing on said initial coating an electronically resistive polymer coating; and (d) removing said conductive polymer at the tip of said substrate to expose said initial coating at the tip of said substrate. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. The method of making renewable composite microelectrodes for electrochemical applications, the steps comprising:
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(a) selecting an elongated conductive substrate having a cross section of less than 500 micrometers and of the group consisting of conductive fibers and wires, said substrate having a tip at one end thereof; (b) providing an initial surface coating extending along at least a portion of the length of said substrate from said tip to form an electrode, said coating containing a modifier providing to said electrode distinctive properties selected from the group consisting of electroactivity, inclusion, adsorption, acidic/basic, complexing/chelating and electrocatalysis, said initial coating being formed by coating and substrate with a non-conductive polymer having a polymer chain containing the modifier in the polymer chain; (c) superposing on said initial coating an electronically resistive polymer coating; and (d) removing said conductive polymer at the tip of said substrate to expose said initial coating at the tip of said substrate. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification