Electrochemical sensor system and method
The electrochemical sensor system includes a capillary and a conductive wire at least partially disposed within the capillary. The wire is provided as a plurality of wires, such as a pair wires. The plurality of wires is disposed substantially parallel within the capillary. The wire extends from a first terminal end of the capillary to a second terminal end of the capillary. Where the wire is provided as a plurality of wires, the capillary includes a capillary wall separating the plurality of wires. The first terminal end of the capillary includes an electrode surface where the wire is disposed therethrough and is exposed, thus forming an electrode. The exposed wire is configured to form a liquid-air interface where a droplet is disposed on the exposed wire. The wire extending from the second terminal end of the capillary is coupled to a processor configured to perform the electrochemical analysis.
1 . An electrochemical sensor system configured to detect an electrochemical characteristic from a droplet, the system comprising:
a capillary having at least two channels divided by a capillary wall, the capillary having a first terminal end and a second terminal end, and wherein the capillary is manufactured from a plastic material;
a conductive wire disposed through at the least two channels extending from the second terminal end to the first terminal end, the wire further disposed through an electrode surface of the first terminal end thus forming an electrode; and
a processor coupled to the wire at the second terminal end, the processor configured to detect the electrochemical characteristic from the droplet.
2 . The electrochemical sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the conductive wire includes a plurality of conductive wires disposed substantially parallel to each other separated by the capillary wall, thus providing a plurality of electrodes.
3 . The electrochemical sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the conductive wire includes a platinum material.
4 . The electrochemical sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the processor includes a potentiostat.
5 . The electrochemical sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the conductive wire is provided as a threaded wire.
6 . The electrochemical sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the electrode has cross-sectional radius less than six hundred fifty nanometers.
7 . The electrochemical sensor system of claim 6 , wherein the electrode has cross-sectional radius less than one hundred nanometers.
8 . The electrochemical sensor system of claim 7 , wherein the electrode has cross-sectional radius less than ten nanometers.
9 . The electrochemical sensor system of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of electrodes includes at least one working electrode and at least one quasi- reference/counter electrode.
10 . A method of manufacturing an electrochemical sensor system, the method comprising the steps of:
disposing a first wire in a first channel of a capillary;
disposing a second wire in a second channel of the capillary;
exposing at least one of the first wire and the second wire through an electrode surface on a first terminal end of the capillary;
sealing the electrode surface with a liquid sealant;
polishing at least one of the first wire and the second wire exposed through the electrode surface; and
coupling at least one of the first wire and the second wire at a second terminal end of the capillary to a processor.
11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising a step of heat sealing the capillary around the wire after the step of exposing at least one of the first wire and the second wire through the electrode surface.
12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising a step of applying a vacuum to the capillary before the step of heat sealing the capillary.
13 . An electrochemical sensor system configured to detect an electrochemical characteristic from a droplet, the system comprising:
a capillary having at least two channels divided by a capillary wall, the capillary having a first terminal end and a second terminal end;
a conductive wire disposed through at the least two channels extending from the second terminal end to the first terminal end, the wire further disposed through an electrode surface of the first terminal end thus forming an electrode; and
a processor coupled to the wire at the second terminal end, the processor configured to detect the electrochemical characteristic from the droplet
wherein the conductive wire includes a plurality of conductive wires disposed substantially parallel to each other separated by the capillary wall, thus providing a plurality of electrodes, and wherein the plurality of electrodes includes at least one working electrode and at least one quasi-reference/counter electrode.