Abstract
Decoding the cellular network interaction of neurons and glial cells are important in the development of new therapies for diseases of the central nervous system (CNS). Electrophysiological in vivo studies in mice will help to understand the highly complex network. In this paper, the optimization of epidural liquid crystal polymer (LCP) electrodes for different platinum electroplating parameters are presented and compared. Constant current and pulsed current electroplating varied in strength and duration was used to decrease the electrode impedance and to increase the charge storage capacity (CSCC). In best cases, both methods generated similar results with an impedance reduction of about 99%. However, electroplating with pulsed currents was less parameter-dependent than the electroplating with constant current. The use of ultrasound was essential to generate platinum coatings without plating defects. Electrode model parameters extracted from the electrode impedance reflected the increase in surface porosity due to the electroplating processes.
Highlights
Many different diseases or injuries of the central nervous system (CNS) have a great disabling impact on everyday life
During the electroplating processes with current densities above or equal to 0.3 kA/m2, gas bubbles were clearly visible on the surface of the electrode sites
The bubbles generated by water electrolysis isolated the surface and incomplete and inhomogeneous platinum coating appeared (Figure 2C; images taken with microscope M205 C (Leica Microsystems))
Summary
Many different diseases or injuries of the central nervous system (CNS) have a great disabling impact on everyday life. Electroplated nanoporous platinum on the top of the electrode sites could improve the effective surface area and thereby, the electrodes’ electrochemical properties. In order to find the possible best electrochemical improvement for these type of LCP electrodes, different electroplating processes were tested. Plating with pulsed currents to periodically change the electrode potential were compared with constant currents, both varied in amplitude and in electroplating time. With cyclic voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy common techniques were used to characterize the electrochemical properties of the electrode [6]. Cyclic voltammetry characterized the electrochemical reactions at the electrode surface and therewith the charge transfer ability [6, 7]. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy described the small signal frequency behavior of the electrodes, which might be important for electrical stimulation [8] or for electrical recording [9]
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