A pencil drawn microelectrode on paper and its application in two-electrode electrochemical sensors

Abstract

A simple approach for fabricating an inexpensive, disposable pencil drawn microelectrode on paper for a two-electrode electrochemical system is developed. The morphology of the fabricated microelectrode was evaluated by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The electrochemical behaviors of the pencil drawn microelectrode have been investigated by cyclic voltammetry using ferrocyanide/ferricyanide as redox probes. Moreover, Prussian blue was successfully electrochemically deposited onto the pencil drawn microelectrode to detect hydrogen peroxide with a low detection limit of 0.05 μM and a wide linear range from 1.0 μM to 1300 μM (R = 0.997). This cheap and effective microelectrode fabrication method may offer a wide channel for developing lab-on-paper applications through an appropriate combination of graphite pencil traces and paper properties.