The Screen-Printed Electrode (SPE) Holder is a versatile tool designed to facilitate characterization of thin/thick film planar electrodes and electrochemical (bio)sensors. It enables experiments with nearly all available on the market screen-printed electrodes (please see compatibility table below).
The main function of that tool is the secure and leakproof mounting of the SPE and adapting it to a wide range of cell attachments i.e. static Batch-Cell (included in Screen-Printed Electrode Holder), dynamic Flow-Cell, in situ Raman Cell, UV-Vis spectroscopy cell, and many more coming soon. Other possibilities are available on request through customization service. The holder accommodates SPEs with dimensions ranging from 7 mm to 10.2 mm wide, 0.05 mm to 0.7 mm thick and longer than 20 mm (SPEs are not included in this product). The holder allows quick exchange of the SPE/sensor with easy-to-handle closing system. The SPE/sensor can be easily slipped into the holder where it is securely held in place with spring loaded jig. The Cell Attachment slides in the guide rails, which then is being locked with the connection plate. Additionally, the guide rails with cell attachment can also be secured with thumb screw. The connection plate has two threaded holes (M3, 20 mm spacing) which allow more permanent fixing of cables, batch connection board and other interfacing devices. This connection plate can be customized on request. The default Batch-Cell Attachment has 25 mm2 opening and allows measurements with sample volume up to 450 µL. The O-ring between the cell and the SPE top surface ensures good seal and can be selected from the set included in the holder to level the difference in SPEs thickness.
The holder elements are constructed with materials that chemically resistive to a wide range of electrolytes (Stainless Steel and PEEK). The connection plate is made of anodize Aluminum. The Cell Attachments are made of PEEK as standard, other materials are available on request. It well fits aqueous (EPDM O-Rings) and organic solvent (FFKM O-Rings) electrolyte requirements.

SPEs are typically based on a classical three-electrodes approach with one centrally positioned working electrode, a small reference electrode and an auxiliary electrode around. It is a low-cost solution suitable for electroanalysis (mainly environmental pollutants, food quality), flow systems (monitoring of industrial processes), nanotechnology or as an electrochemical transducer in biosensor development (clinical analysis). SPEs can be used for a single use applications, or used for continuous monitoring, depending on their type and structure.

Specification
width range of SPE: 7 mm – 10.2 mm
thickness range of SPE: 0.05 mm – 0.7 mm
minimum length of SPE: 20 mm
maximum volume of sample in Batch-Cell Attachment: 450 µL
operating temperature: -40°C to 80°C

Product includes
1 x Screen-Printed Electrode Holder
1 x Batch-Cell Attachment
1 x Set of O-Rings (for aqueous or aqueous/organic electrolyte)

This is a multi-purpose Spectro-EFC Cell Attachment designed to be coupled with a light source and spectrometer (UV-vis-NIR) via bifurcated optical fiber. It enables obtaining electrochemical and spectroscopic information from the Screen-Printed Electrodes (SPE), where variations in the applied potential to working electrode induce changes in the observed reflection spectrum. Applied curved optical collimating lens is to be connected with a bifurcated fiber (not included in the set) which has two fibers side-by-side in the common end and breaks out into two legs at the other end (i.e. light source and spectrometer). The lens is 5 mm in diameter, has a focal length of 10 mm, and a wavelength range of 185-2500 nm. The distance between the lens and the surface of SPE is adjustable in a range of 15 to 20 mm, resulting in a spot size range of approximately 3 to 1.5 mm, respectively. The light spot is placed in the middle of the SPE sensor width. The assembled set consisting of Screen-Printed Electrode Holder and Spectro-EFC Cell Attachment. The attachment elements are constructed with materials that are chemically resistive to a wide range of electrolytes (PEEK, PFA/ETFE). Other materials such as PTFE, Titanium, Stainless Steel, etc., are available on request. The Spectro-EFC Cell Attachment well fits aqueous (EPDM O-Rings) and organic solvent (FFKM O-Rings) electrolyte requirements.

Application note:

Spectroelectrochemical set is used to study the relation between absorbance/reflectance and electrochemical potential. It enables real-time monitoring of the optical change at the surface of the working electrode. It also enables in-situ spectral acquisition for detection, identification, and characterization of short-lived electrochemically-generated species/intermediates, resulting in a detailed investigation of the mechanistic pathways of redox processes.

The Spectro-EFC Cell Attachment consists of two main parts: the chamber and the base which is installed on the guide rails of the Screen-Printed Electrode Holder. In the flow mode, the tubing is typically connected to the peristaltic pump, while in the static (stagnant) mode the cell attachment can be filled up using a syringe (neither the pump nor the syringe are included in the set).

Specification:

tubing size: 1/16" OD x .040" ID (1.6mm OD x 1.0mm ID)

quartz window diameter: 10 mm

quartz window thickness: 1 mm

fiber connector: SMA 905, 6.35 mm ferrule

Product includes:

1 x flow chamber with fittings

1 x collimating lens with SMA 905 optical fiber connector – 0048PHYCM

1 x quartz window

1 x base

1 x set of O-Rings

1 x set of screws

1 x Screen-Printed Electrode Holder (as a variant)

FLOW CELL ATTACHMENT FOR SPE HOLDER

Flow cell attachment increases the functionality of the Screen-Printed Electrode (SPE) Holder and makes the SPEs operating under flow conditions. The assembled set consisting of Screen-Printed Electrode Holder, Flow Cell Attachment and the reservoir is gas- and liquid-tight. The reservoir is composed of Basic Electrochemical Cell (BEC 50 mL) with two additional plugs. It enables further analysis of the solution or conducting reference electrochemical measurement using classical electrodes (6 mm dia., not included in the set). The attachment elements are constructed with materials that are chemically resistive to a wide range of electrolytes (PEEK, PFA/ETFE). Other materials such as PTFE, Titanium, Stainless Steel, etc., are available on request. The Flow Cell Attachment well fits aqueous (EPDM O-Rings) and organic solvent (FFKM O-Rings) electrolyte requirements.

Application note:

The Flow Cell Attachment is installed on the guide rails of the Screen-Printed Electrode Holder. The tubing is connected to the peristaltic pump (not included in the set) which drives the fluid from the reservoir through the cell (above the electrode assembly) and then returns it to the reservoir.

Specification:

tubing size: 1/16" OD x .040" ID (1.6mm OD x 1.0mm ID)

maximum electrolyte volume in the reservoir: 40 mL

electrode plug diameter in the reservoir: 6 mm

Product includes:

1 x flow chamber with fittings

1 x reservoir (BEC 50 mL + 2 additional plugs)

1 x set of O-Rings

1 x Screen-Printed Electrode Holder (as a variant)

Tantalum clip works as an electrical conductor between an electrode material (free-standing or deposited on a substrate) and an external circuit. This clip is formed from a pure metal wire and has a smooth surface. It is compatible with most of inorganic and organic based free-standing membranes or thin films deposited on flexible and rigid substrates. The maximum thickness of the sample is 1 mm. This clip is made of Tantalum which is known to be inert to practically all organic and inorganic compounds. Tantalum's corrosion resistance is very similar to that of glass, as both are unsuitable for use in hydrofluoric acid and strong hot alkali applications.

Application note:
Generally, the electrode is fabricated by fixing the sample into the Tantalum clip. Such electrode is immersed in the ion-conducting solution as a working electrode. An electric current is passed between the working electrode and the counter electrode for a certain amount of time. Tantalum wire clip may be reused. The clip should be cleaned prior to the deposition of electrode material.