Electrode preconditioning
AssigneeRoche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
InventorsPatricia Mary Elizabeth Roblin, Mark Hyland, Christopher Paul Newman
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Abstract
A method for improving the precision of electrochemical measurements made using an electrochemical cell is provided. The method comprises preconditioning a working electrode of the cell by (i) baking the working electrode; and/or (ii) incubating the working electrode; and/or (iii) applying a preconditioning potential across the cell; and/or (iv) treating the working electrode with a UV laser.
Claims22
A method of preparing an electrochemical device, said method comprising:
- (a) providing an electrochemical cell having a working electrode and a pseudo reference electrode;
- (b) preconditioning the working electrode by (i) baking the working electrode;
- and/or (ii) incubating the working electrode;
- and/or (iii) applying a preconditioning potential across the cell;
- and/or (iv) treating the working electrode with a UV laser;
- and
- (c) providing an electroactive reagent to the electrochemical cell and optionally drying the reagent
A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the electroactive reagent is substantially free of metals capable of adsorbing to the working electrode.
A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the electroactive reagent does not contain cobalt.
A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the preconditioning potential is applied in the presence of an aqueous buffer which contacts the working and pseudo reference electrodes.
A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the preconditioning potential is applied by carrying out a scan of the potential between −0.1V and +1.8V.
A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein baking is carried out at a temperature of up to 150° C. for a period of up to 48 hours.
A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein baking is carried out at about 130° C. for about 30 minutes, or at about 100° C. for about 2 hours.
A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein incubation is carried out at a temperature of from −20° C. to 30° C. for up to 30 days.
A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the working electrode has at least one dimension of less than 50 μm.
A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the electrochemical cell is in the form of a receptacle, the working electrode is in a wall of the receptacle and the method comprises inserting the electroactive reagent into the receptacle.
A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the device comprises a strip having at least one receptacle or partial receptacle formed therein, the receptacle or partial receptacle having a first open part in a first surface of the strip to enable a sample to enter the receptacle or partial receptacle,
- wherein the working electrode of the electrochemical cell is in a wall or walls of the receptacle or partial receptacle,
- wherein the pseudo reference electrode of the electrochemical cell comprises a pseudo reference electrode layer formed on at least a part of the first surface of the strip, and
- wherein the method comprises inserting the electroactive reagent into the receptacle.
An electrochemical device which is obtained or obtainable by the method of any one of the preceding claims.
A device comprising
- an electrochemical cell having a working electrode and a pseudo reference electrode;
- an electroactive reagent comprising an electrochemical mediator;
- a potentiostat for applying a potential between the working and pseudo reference electrodes;
- a controller for controlling the potentiostat so that firstly a preconditioning potential is applied and subsequently a measuring potential is applied;
- and
- means for measuring the electrochemical response of the cell.
A method of improving the precision of electrochemical measurements made using an electrochemical cell, said method comprising preconditioning a working electrode of the cell by (i) baking the working electrode;
- and/or (ii) incubating the working electrode;
- and/or (iii) applying a preconditioning potential across the cell;
- and/or (iv) treating the working electrode with a UV laser.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.