Track-Etched Microporous Membrane Electrodes and Its Applications in Flow Analysis

Mini-Review

Abstract

This mini-review introduces electrochemical property and analytical applications of the track-etched microporous membrane electrodes. The electrodes were prepared by using a track-etched microporous membrane filter as a template which has a porous structure. The coating of platinum or gold was produced by sputter deposition onto both sides of the membrane filters. The electrode enables efficient electrolysis under a flow condition when the sample solution flows through the cylindrical pores of the electrode. Efficiency of electrolysis becomes remarkably higher by using the smaller pore size. This property would be attributed to the limitation of growth of the diffusion layer at the entrances of pores. Three-electrode and four-electrode system was fabricated by alternately piling up the electrodes and the membrane filters. Insertion of a membrane filter as a spacer between the electrodes avoids short-circuits and keeps a completely uniform distance between the electrodes. An immobilized enzyme reactor is also able to be mounted in the proposed electrode system. The simplicity and flexibility of arrangement of the electrodes as well as high efficiency of electrolysis is the greatest feature of the track-etched microporous membrane electrodes.