ERIC Number: EJ1279941
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2020-Dec
Pages: 9
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0021-9584
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Characterization and Electrochemical Analysis of Microelectrodes and the Interface with a Fabricated 3D-Printed Microfluidic Chip in an Upper-Division Analytical Course
DeLeon, Chelsea; Tabibi, Tara; Alagic, Asmira
Journal of Chemical Education, v97 n12 p4453-4461 Dec 2020
This work explores the interface between 3D-printing, material sciences, and microfluidics with electrochemical detection in an undergraduate laboratory. This work includes a module for the characterization and electrochemical analysis of microelectrodes that spans 4 weeks (3 h per week). Laboratory exercises include the fabrication of a 3D-printed device, examination of 3D-printing techniques, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and electrochemistry. This interdisciplinary curricula exposed students to the process of designing a functioning microfluidic device. Students began by designing the microfluidic chip with AutoDesk Inventor. To gain a better understanding of the microelectrodes utilized in a microfluidic system, students explored the surfaces of various microelectrodes with SEM. On the basis of the visualization of the microelectrodes with SEM, students formed a hypothesis on the impact of electrode surface area on the sensitivity and limit of detection. Cyclic voltammetry in a classical three-electrode system was used to experimentally examine the relationship between electrode surface area and sensitivity. The module concluded with the use of the fabricated 3D-printed chip and amperometry to develop a calibration curve and determination of an unknown concentration of analyte. This work highlights the integration of 3D-printing, SEM, microfluidics, and electrochemistry into the upper-level undergraduate curriculum.
Descriptors: Science Instruction, Chemistry, Science Laboratories, Laboratory Equipment, Printing, Equipment, Design, Scientific Concepts, Concept Formation, College Science, Undergraduate Study, Hands on Science
Division of Chemical Education, Inc. and ACS Publications Division of the American Chemical Society. 1155 Sixteenth Street NW, Washington, DC 20036. Tel: 800-227-5558; Tel: 202-872-4600; e-mail: eic@jce.acs.org; Web site: http://pubs.acs.org/jchemeduc
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A

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