title: Can the mechanical activation (polishing) of screen-printed electrodes enhance their electroanalytical response?
abstract: The mechanical activation (polishing) of screen-printed electrodes (SPEs) is explored and shown to exhibit an improved voltammetric response (in specific cases) when polished with either commonly available alumina slurry or diamond spray. Proof-of-concept is demonstrated for the electrochemical sensing of nitrite where an increase in the voltammetric current is found using both polishing protocols, exhibiting an improved limit of detection (3σ) and a two-fold increase in the electroanalytical sensitivity compared to the respective un-polished counterpart. It is found that mechanical activation/polishing increases the C/O ratio which significantly affects inner-sphere electrochemical probes only (whereas outer-sphere systems remain unaffected). Mechanical activation/polishing has the potential to be a simple pre-treatment technique that can be extended and routinely applied towards other analytes for an observable improvement in the electroanalytical response.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Engenharia de Ilha Solteira UNESP - Universidade Estadual Paulista, Departamento de Física e Química. Av. Brasil Centro, 56 CEP 15385-000, Ilha Solteira, SP, Brazil and Faculty of Science and Engineering, School of Science and the Environment, Division of Chemistry and Environmental Science, Manchester Metropolitan University, Chester Street, Manchester M1 5GD, UK. c.banks@mmu.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Loanda R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Cumba
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science and Engineering, School of Science and the Environment, Division of Chemistry and Environmental Science, Manchester Metropolitan University, Chester Street, Manchester M1 5GD, UK. c.banks@mmu.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Christopher W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science and Engineering, School of Science and the Environment, Division of Chemistry and Environmental Science, Manchester Metropolitan University, Chester Street, Manchester M1 5GD, UK. c.banks@mmu.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Dale A C
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Brownson
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science and Engineering, School of Science and the Environment, Division of Chemistry and Environmental Science, Manchester Metropolitan University, Chester Street, Manchester M1 5GD, UK. c.banks@mmu.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Jamie P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Physical Chemistry Department and Institute of Electrochemistry, University of Alicante, 03690, San Vicente del Raspeig, Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: Jesus
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Iniesta
authors.affiliation: Chemistry Division, Modular Labs, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay 400085, India.
authors.forename: Bhawana
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Thakur
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Engenharia de Ilha Solteira UNESP - Universidade Estadual Paulista, Departamento de Física e Química. Av. Brasil Centro, 56 CEP 15385-000, Ilha Solteira, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Devaney R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: do Carmo
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science and Engineering, School of Science and the Environment, Division of Chemistry and Environmental Science, Manchester Metropolitan University, Chester Street, Manchester M1 5GD, UK. c.banks@mmu.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Craig E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Banks