title: Structural characterization of platinum foil for neural stimulating electrodes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to investigate the structural properties of a cold-rolled platinum foil used to manufacture multi-electrode spiral nerve cuffs.
  
  
  METHODS
  To attain this objective, 0.03-mm-thick cold-rolled platinum foil strips with 99.99 wt% purity were used. The resistivity measurements were made using a 4-point probe technique in which the strips were subjected to dynamic annealing in an argon atmosphere. The stored energy of platinum was recorded in an argon atmosphere using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Finally, the microstructure of the strips was investigated by optical microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the resistivity measurements, a small change is observed at ~280°C. This change could be explained as the partial recovery elicited by the decrease of dislocation density. Above 500°C, a significant decrease in resistivity was recorded, and the decrease reached a maximum at ~750°C. These results are consistent with the recrystallization trend detected in DSC, namely the DSC measurement detected very weak heat release during recrystallization, which was actually accumulated during the cold-working. This exothermal peak occurred in the temperature range 380-800°C.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Implantable Technology and Sensors, ITIS d. o. o. Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Republic of Slovenia.
authors.forename: Polona
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pečlin
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials and Metallurgy, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Republic of Slovenia.
authors.forename: Milan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bizjak
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Republic of Slovenia.
authors.forename: Samo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ribarič
authors.affiliation: Centre for Implantable Technology and Sensors, ITIS d. o. o. Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Republic of Slovenia.
authors.forename: Janez
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rozman
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D006358:Hot Temperature; D058542:Implantable Neurostimulators; D008422:Materials Testing; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D010984:Platinum / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D010984:Platinum
keywords: Nerve stimulation; annealing; differential scanning calorimetry (DSC); microstructure; optical microscopy; platinum electrodes; recrystallization; resistivity