Full Paper

Characterization of Nanopore Electrode Structures as Basis for Amplified Electrochemical Assays

  1. Sebastian Neugebauer1,
  2. Ulrich Müller2,
  3. Theobald Lohmüller3,
  4. Joachim P. Spatz3,
  5. Martin Stelzle2,
  6. Wolfgang Schuhmann1

Article first published online: 19 OCT 2006

DOI: 10.1002/elan.200603612

Issue

Electroanalysis

Electroanalysis

Special Issue: Bioelectronics

Volume 18, Issue 19-20, pages 1929–1936, October 2006

Additional Information

How to Cite

Neugebauer, S., Müller, U., Lohmüller, T., Spatz, J., Stelzle, M. and Schuhmann, W. (2006), Characterization of Nanopore Electrode Structures as Basis for Amplified Electrochemical Assays. Electroanalysis, 18: 1929–1936. doi: 10.1002/elan.200603612

Author Information

  1. 1

    Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Analytische Chemie – Elektroanalytik & Sensorik, Universitätsstr. 150, 44780 Bochum, Germany

  2. 2

    NMI Naturwissenschaftliches und Medizinisches Institut an der Universität Tübingen, Markwiesenstrasse 55, 72770 Reutlingen, Germany

  3. 3

    Max-Planck-Institute for Metals Research, Department New Materials and Biosystems & University of Heidelberg, Institute for Physical Chemistry, Department Biophysical Chemistry, Heisenbergstrasse 3, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 19 OCT 2006
  2. Article first published online: 19 OCT 2006
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 29 JUN 2006
  4. Manuscript Received: 27 JUN 2006

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Keywords:

  • Nanopores;
  • Nanopore electrode;
  • Scanning electrochemical microscopy;
  • SECM;
  • redox cycling;
  • Biosensors;
  • Amplification

Abstract

A nanopore electrode structure was fabricated consisting of ensembles of nanopores with separately addressable electrodes at the pore bottoms and the rims. A metal/insulator/metal layer structure allowed for adjusting the spacing between the bottom and rim electrodes to be in the range of about 200 nm. Pore diameters varied between 200 and 800 nm. The electrochemical properties of this electrode structure and its perspectives for applications in bioelectronics were studied using cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry along with high-resolution scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) in constant-distance mode. It was possible to visualize the electrochemical activity of a single nanometric electrode using high-resolution SECM in a combination of sample-generation-tip-collection mode and positive feedback mode. The SECM images suggested an influence of the unbiased rim electrode on redox amplification which was used as a basis for evaluating the feasibility of current amplification by means of redox cycling between the bottom and rim electrodes. Amplification factors superior to those obtained with interdigitated array electrodes could be demonstrated.

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