Abstract
This paper explores the degradation of poly benzene-1,3-diol films in caustic solutions. A polymer film was deposited on Micrux (R) thin film gold electrodes (A = 0.008 cm(2)) or gold-coated silicon wafer chips (A = 1.0 cm(2)). The deposition parameters, exposure time and the concentrations of caustic solutions were optimized to obtain the efficient microelectrode ensembles. The electrochemical behavior of the deposited material was studied by cyclic voltammetry. The final morphology of the films was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Through exposure to caustic solutions, polymer removal from the electrode surfaces resulted in the creation of a microelectrode ensemble. The voids on the surfaces were filled successfully with polyaniline by electropolymerization process. TEM and AFM analyses revealed the existence of polyaniline spherical nanoparticles in the modified films with a diameter slightly above 50 nm. The calculated average inter-pore distance using SEM micrographs was approximately 543 nm for the Micrux (R) electrode, and approximately 860 nm for gold-coated Si-chips. The number density of the pores was equal to 4.9 x 10(8) electrodes/cm(2) for Micrux (R) modified electrode, while 2.0 x 10(8) electrodes/cm(2) for gold-coated Si-chips. The present work allows the production of high-density microelectrode ensembles using a cost-effective route, and a platform for a wide range of applications including sensor technology.