Bevelled carbon-fiber ultramicroelectrodes

Abstract

A technique for polishing the surface of carbon-fiber ultramicroelectrodes to a bevelled tip is described which simplifies electrode preparation. The bevelled surface has an active area that is more than twice that of a disk electrode fabricated from the same material. This results in larger faradaic currents. It is found that the chronoamperometric current at these electrodes is equal to that calculated for a disk of equivalent area to the elliptical area of the electrode. While the area is increased, the residual current is not, and thus quantitative applications of these electrodes as in vivo probes as facilitated. Furthermore, the bevelled tip results in an electrode that minimizes tissue damage during insertion into brain tissues.