Interdigital MnO_(2)/PEDOT Alternating Stacked Microelectrodes for High-Performance On-Chip Microsupercapacitor and Humidity Sensing

For microelectronic devices,the on-chip microsupercapacitors with facile construction and high performance,are attracting researchers'prior consideration due to their high compatibility with modern microsystems.Herein,we proposed interchanging interdigital Au-/MnO_(2)/polyethylene dioxythiophene stacked microsupercapacitor based on a microfabrication process followed by successive electrochemical deposition.The stacked configuration of two pseudocapacitive active microelectrodes meritoriously leads to an enhanced contact area between MnO_(2)and the conductive and electroactive layer of polyethylene dioxythiophene,hence providing excellent electron transport and diffusion pathways of electrolyte ions,resulting in increased pseudocapacitance of MnO_(2)and polyethylene dioxythiophene.The stacked quasi-solid-state microsupercapacitors delivered the maximum specific capacitance of 43 mF cm^(-2)(211.9 F cm^(-3)),an energy density of 3.8μWh cm^(-2)(at a voltage window of 0.8 V)and 5.1μWh cm^(-2)(at a voltage window of 1.0 V)with excellent rate capability(96.6%at 2 mA cm^(-2))and cycling performance of 85.3%retention of initial capacitance after 10000 consecutive cycles at a current density of 5 mA cm^(-2),higher than those of ever reported polyethylene dioxythiophene and MnO_(2)-based planar microsupercapacitors.Benefiting from the favorable morphology,bilayer microsupercapacitor is utilized as a flexible humidity sensor with a response/relaxation time superior to those of some commercially available integrated microsensors.This strategy will be of significance in developing high-performance on-chip integrated microsupercapacitors/microsensors at low cost and environment-friendly routes.

Deep brain implantable microelectrode arrays for detection and functional localization of the subthalamic nucleus in rats with Parkinson’s disease

The subthalamic nucleus(STN)is considered the best target for deep brain stimulation treatments of Parkinson’s disease(PD).It is difficult to localize the STN due to its small size and deep location.Multichannel microelectrode arrays(MEAs)can rapidly and precisely locate the STN,which is important for precise stimulation.In this paper,16-channel MEAs modified with multiwalled carbon nanotube/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate)(MWCNT/PEDOT:PSS)nanocomposites were designed and fabricated,and the accurate and rapid identification of the STN in PD rats was performed using detection sites distributed at different brain depths.These results showed that nuclei in 6-hydroxydopamine hydrobromide(6-OHDA)-lesioned brains discharged more intensely than those in unlesioned brains.In addition,the MEA simultaneously acquired neural signals from both the STN and the upper or lower boundary nuclei of the STN.Moreover,higher values of spike firing rate,spike amplitude,local field potential(LFP)power,and beta oscillations were detected in the STN of the 6-OHDA-lesioned brain,and may therefore be biomarkers of STN localization.Compared with the STNs of unlesioned brains,the power spectral density of spikes and LFPs synchronously decreased in the delta band and increased in the beta band of 6-OHDA-lesioned brains.This may be a cause of sleep and motor disorders associated with PD.Overall,this work describes a new cellular-level localization and detection method and provides a tool for future studies of deep brain nuclei.

Simulation and fabrication of in vitro microfluidic microelectrode array chip for patterned culture and electrophysiological detection of neurons

To enable the detection and modulation of modularized neural networks in vitro,this study proposes a microfluidic microelectrode array chip for the cultivation,compartmentalization,and control of neural cells.The chip was designed based on the specific structure of neurons and the requirements for detection and modulation.Finite-element analysis of the chip’s flow field was conducted using the COMSOL Multiphysics software,and the simulation results show that the liquid within the chip can flow smoothly,ensuring stable flow fields that facilitate the uniform growth of neurons within the microfluidic channels.By employing MEMS technology in combination with nanomaterial modification techniques,the microfluidic microelectrode array chip was fabricated successfully.Primary hippocampal neurons were cultured on the chip,forming a well-defined neural network.Spontaneous electrical activity of the detected neurons was recorded,exhibiting a 23.7%increase in amplitude compared to neuronal discharges detected on an open-field microelectrode array.This study provides a platform for the precise detection and modulation of patterned neuronal growth in vitro,potentially serving as a novel tool in neuroscience research.

Indirect Electroanalysis of 3-Methyl-4-Nitrophenol in Water Using Carbon Fiber Microelectrode Modified with Nickel Tetrasulfonated Phthalocyanine Complex

Electrochemical detection of 3-methyl-4-nitrophenol (MNP) in direct phenol oxidation occurs at high potentials and generally leads to progressive passivation of the electrochemical sensor. This study describes the use of a carbon fiber microelectrode modified with a tetrasulfonated nickel phthalocyanine complex for the detection of MNP at a lower potential than that of direct phenol oxidation. The MNP voltammogram showed the presence of an anodic peak at -0.11 V vs SCE, corresponding to the oxidation of the hydroxylamine group generated after the reduction of the nitro group. The effect of buffer pH on the peak current and SWV parameters such as frequency, scan increment, and pulse amplitude were studied and optimized to have better electrochemical response of the proposed sensor. With these optimal parameters, the calibration curve shows that the peak current varied linearly as a function of MNP concentration, leading to a limit of detection (LoD) of 1.1 μg/L. These results show an appreciable sensitivity of the sensor for detecting the MNP at relatively low potentials, making it possible to avoid passivation phenomena.

Microelectrode array for bioelectrical signal stimulation and recording

A microelectrode array（MEA） is presented, which is composed of 60 independent electrodes with 59 working ones and one reference one, and they are divided into 30 pairs. Except for the reference electrode, each pair consists of one stimulating electrode and one recording electrode. Supported by the peripheral circuits, four electrode states to study the bioelectrical signal of biological tissue or slice cultured in-vitro on the surface of the electrodes can be realized through each pair of electrodes. The four electrode states are stimulation, recording, stimulation and recording simultaneously, and isolation. The state of each pair of working electrodes can be arbitrarily controlled according to actual needs. The MEAs are fabricated in printed circuit board （PCB） technology. The total area of the PCB-based MEA is 49 mm × 49 mm. The impedance measurement of MEA is carried out in 0.9% sodium chloride solution at room temperature by means of 2-point measurements with an Agilent LCR meter, and the test signal for the impedance measurement is sinusoidal （AC voltage 50 mV, sweeping frequency 20 Hz to 10 kHz）. The electrode impedance is between 200 and 3 kΩ while the frequency is between 500 and 1 000 Hz. The electrode impedance magnitude is inversely proportional to the frequency. Experiments of toad sciatic nerve in-vitro stimulation and recording and signal regeneration between isolated toad sciatic nerves are carried out on the PCB-based MEA. The results show that the MEA can be used for bioelectrical signal stimulation, recording, stimulation and recording simultaneously, and isolation of biological tissues or slices in-vitro.

Microelectrode array recordings of excitability of low Mg^(2+)-induced acute hippocampal slices

Neuronal connections can be detected by neuronal network discharges in hippocampal neurons cultured on multi-electrodes.However,the multi-electrode-array（MEA）has not been widely used in hippocampal slice culture studies focused on epilepsy.The present study induced spontaneous synchronous epileptiform activity using low Mg2＋artificial cerebrospinal fluid on acute hippocampal slices to record hippocampal discharges with MEA.Results showed that burst duration and average number of spikes in a burst were significantly greater in the CA3 compared with dentate gyrus and CA1 areas.In Schaffer cut-off group,CA1 area discharges disappeared,but synchronous discharges remained in the CA3 area.Moreover,synchronous discharge frequency in the Schaffer cut-off group was similar to control.However,burst duration and average number of spikes in a burst were significantly decreased compared with control（P 〈 0.05）.Results demonstrated that highest neuronal excitability occurred in the CA3 area,and synchronous discharges induced by low Mg2＋originated from the CA3 region.

Electrochemical Properties of Polypyrrole-Coated Microelectrode Array and the Fabrication of Polypyrrole-Based Microelectronic Devices

Conducting polymers have been studied extensively. An interesting property of the conducting polymer is that the conductivity of some polymers, such as polypyrrolc, polyaniline, poly(3-methylthiophene) etc. , is affected by the voltage applied to them. For polypyrrole, the oxidized state is an electronic conductor and the reduced state is essentially insulating. Using this property, one can fabricate the polymer-based electronic devices. Experimental results of Pickun

A novel implantable multichannel silicon-based microelectrode

Silicon-based microelectrodes have been confirmed to be helpful in neural prostheses. The fabricated 7-channel silicon-based microelectrode was feasible to be implanted into the brain cortex. The manufacturing process by micro-electromechanical system （MEMS） technology was detailed with four photolithographic masks. The microscopic photographs and SEM images indicated that the probe shank was 3 mm long, 100μm wide and 20 μm thick with the recording sites spaced 120μm apart for good signal isolation. To facilitate the insertion and minimize the trauma, the microelectrode is narrowed down gradually near the tip with the tip taper angle of 6 degrees. Curve of the single recording site impedance versus frequency was shown by test in vitro and the impedance declined from 150.5 kΩ to 6.0 kΩ with frequency changing from 10 k to 10 MHz.

The Measurement of Membrane Potential and NO3 Activity in Root Cells Using Ion-Selective Microelectrodes

Remobilisation of nitrate in plants, especially in vacuole of plant, is mostly related to the qua- lity of agricultural products and the high nitrogen use efficiency in plants. Ion-selective microelectrodes offer a non-destructive and non-interruptive method to measure NO 3 gradients and electric potential differences across both the plasma membrane and tonoplast. Thus, a double-barrelled microelectrode backfilled with a membrane sensor for NO 3 embedded in poly vinyl chloride (PVC) can record the NO 3 activity in cytoplasm and vacuole of a cell. This paper presented how to make this kind of microelectrode and how to do the intracellular measurements on intact plants. Our result showed that nitrate activity was about 2.7 mmol L 1 in cytoplasm while 70 mmol L 1 in vacuole, which implicated that vacuole was a pool of nitrate in plants.

Studies on the Behaviors of PbSO_4/Pb and PbO_2/PbSO_4 Electrodes Prepared from Lead Carbonate by Powder Microelectrode Technique

The behaviors ot PbSO4/Pb and PbO4/PbSO4 electrode prepared from PbCO3 have been examined using powder microelectrode(PME) technique and cyclic voltammetry(CV). Firstly, PMEs parked with Pb- CO3 transformed into PtSO4 PME in 1. 0 mol/L H2SO4 solution at 30 C, and then the PbSO4 in the PMEs were formed to Pb or PbO2 using an unsymmetrical signal(Qa/Qe for PbSO4/Pb electrode and Qe/Qa for PsO2/ PbSO4 electrode being 0. 1-0. 3) in 2. S mol/L H2SO4 solution. The results show that the CV characteristic of either PbSO4/Pb or PsO2/PbSO4 PME prepared from PhCO3 are as good as that of both electrodes made from lead oxide powder produced by ball mill.

SOLID STATE VOLTAMMETRY OF ELECTROACTIVE SOLUTES IN POLYMER SOLVENTS(PEO)AT MICROELECTRODE

The present paper describes experiments aimed at delineating significant chemical characteristics of electrochemical reactions in polymeric solutions, including how rigid solvent environments affect mass transport rates, and also discusses the possibility that the microelectrode coated with poly(ethylene oxide)(PEO) film can be used as gas sensor.

Research on Electric Impedance Spectroscopy of Living Cell Suspensions by a Chip with Microelectrodes

A microfabricated electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) chip with microelectrodes was developed.The substrate and the electrodes of the chip were made of glass and gold,respectively.The experimental results demonstrated that the EIS-chip could distinguish different solutions (physiological saline,culture medium,living cell suspension etc.) by scanning from 10Hz to 45kHz.A 6-element circuit model was used for fitting the real part and the imaginary part admittance curves of the living cell suspension.An actual circuit was also built and tested to verify the 6-element circuit model proposed.The micro-EIS chip has several advantages including the use of small sample volumes,high resolution and ease of operation.It shows good application prospects in the areas of cellular electrophysioiogy,drug screening and bio-sensors etc.

Powder Microelectrodes Applied to NO_2 Detection

The reduction of nitrite at Au or carbon electrode in-H_2SO_4 was found to follow achemical-electrochemical (CE) mechanism with a very thin (4×10(-8)cm) preceding reaction zone.It was proposed and experimentally verified that for such kind of electrode processes the totalreaction the could be effectively enhanced by using electrodes with increased true surface area.such as porous electrodes. As a combination of porous electrode and microelectrode, the powdermicroclectrode shows excellent performance for nitrite detection.

THE STUDY ON NOVEL MICROELECTRODE ARRAY CHIPS FOR THE DETECTION OF HEAVY METALS IN WATER POLLUTION

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of trace heavy metals in aqueous environment are rapidly assuming significance along with the rapid development of industry.In this paper,gold microelectrode array(MEA)plated with mercury film was used for simultaneous voltammetric detection of zinc,cadmium,lead and copper ions in water.The electrochemical behavior and the actual surface area of the MEA were investigated by cyclic voltammetry in K_(3)[Fe(CN)_(6)].Electrochemical impedance spectrum(EIS)was utilized to examine the deposition of mercury on the electrode surface.Based on anodic stripping voltammetry,mercury film
Au MEA was applied to the detection of heavy metals in artificial analyte,where good calibrate linearity was obtained for cadmium,lead and copper ions,but with zinc exhibiting poor linearity.

A NEW APPROACH TO THE EQUATIONS FOR THE STEADY STATE CURRENTS AT MICROELECTRODES:EC'PROCESSES(SECOND ORDER REACTION)

With a new approach,the general current expressions of two typical second order catalytic reactions at microelectrodes are obtained.This allows the study of fast chemical reactions and systems where the reactants are present in similar concentrations.

Highly-compliant,conformal and stretchable microelectrode arrays

Most biological tissues are supple and elastic, while current electronic devices fabricated by semiconductors and metals are usually stiff and brittle. As a result, implanted electronic devices can irritate and damage surrounding tissues, causing immune reaction and scarring. In this work, we develop stretchable microelectrode arrays, with the development of a novel soft lithography technology, which are designed and fabricated with a polymer/stretchable metal/polymer sandwich structure. With the great deformability of stretch, compression, bend and twisting, while preserving electrical property, this technology overcomes the fundamental mismatch of mechanical properties between biological tissues and electronic devices, and provides highly-compliant, confonnal and stretchable bio-electronic interfaces. Here we also describe the following three applications of the stretchable electrode arrays： a. monitoring intracranial electroencephalography （EEG）; b. stimulating peripheral nerves to drive muscles; c. monitoring epicardial electrocardiography （ECG）. Stretchable microelectrode arrays create a promising field in biomedical applications for its better modulus match with biological tissues and robust mechanical and electrical properties. They allow for construction of electronic integrated circuits spread over on complex and dynamic curved surfaces, providing a much friendlier bio-electronic interface for diagnosis, treatment and in- telligent bio-control.

NUCLEATION BEHAVIOURS OF SILVER ON GLASSY CARBON MICROELECTRODES

The initial stage of silver deposition has been investigated using the microelectrode technique A disc shaped nucleus can be obtained on glassy carbon microelectrodes and the instanta. neous nucleation model applies for the process

Construction of DNA-based logic gates on nanostructured microelectrodes

Electrochemical logical operations utilizing biological molecules(protein or DNA), which can be used in disease diagnostics and bio-computing, have attracted great research interest. However, the existing logic operations, being realized on macroscopic electrode, are not suitable for implantable logic devices. Here, we demonstrate DNA-based logic gates with electrochemical signal as output combined with gold flower microelectrodes. The designed logic gates are of fast response, enzyme-free, and micrometer scale. They perform well in either pure solution or complex matrices, such as fetal bovine serum,suggesting great potential for in vivo applications.

An Integrated DNA Modified Dual-microelectrode Sensor Probe

A unique method for preparing a coaxial dual-microelectrode sensor by vaporizing the nano-thickness Au layer on the DNA modified carbon fiber micro-column electrode was illustrated. The dual-electrode showed particular merit for determination in biological systems.

A new O_2-microelectrode and its application

A new oxygen microelectrode was introduced. An internal guard cathode was added besides its normal cathode sensor. It has a low zero measuring current, high signal stability and its easy to construct. As it is small in size and high in stability, it may be used not only for routine environmental application, but for other scientific research work as well.