Electrode Arrangement and Method for Operating the Electrode Arrangement

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This invention describes an electrode arrangement and methods for its operation, enabling controlled cycles of reduction and oxidation of redox species in an electrolyte. By using a specific layered structure involving a control electrode, a collector electrode, an insulating layer, and a charge transfer mediator, the system can act as an electrochemical switch or transistor. This setup allows for reproducible, switchable, and amplifiable current flows controlled by applied voltages and the nature of the redox species and mediator involved, overcoming key limitations of traditional solid-state transistors.

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• Electrochemical transistors for nanoscale and molecular electronics.
• Sensitive biosensors for detecting specific chemical or biological species (e.g., glucose sensors).
• Digital information storage and binary encoding at a molecular level.
• Electrochemical logic gates for molecular computing.
• Amplifiers and switches in microfluidic and lab-on-chip devices.
• Reusable and reliable platforms for redox-based analytical measurement tools.
• Integration in portable diagnostic equipment for healthcare applications.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Enables highly reproducible and reliable switching behavior compared to traditional metal-molecule-metal bridges.
• Overcomes disadvantages of conventional semiconductor transistors, such as poor coupling with chemical or biological recognition events.
• Offers both switch (on/off) and amplification (transistor-like) functions, allowing for information encoding and signal processing.
• Transistor behavior is controlled electrochemically, enabling miniaturization and integration with biochemical systems.
• Design allows for high sensitivity and fast switching times due to the proximity and arrangement of electrodes.
• Versatile materials and fabrication processes, including compatibility with standard lithography methods.
• Adaptable for selective and specific sensing via tailored mediators or enzyme-functionalized electrodes.

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Patent Abstract

The invention relates to an electrode arrangement for the cyclic reduction and oxidation of a redox species in an electrolyte, wherein both electrodes are arranged on an insulating substrate and are connected to apply a voltage to a counter-electrode, comprising: a) a control electrode for reacting the redox species for a cyclic electron transport between the electrodes, and b) a collector electrode arranged opposite the control electrode, wherein a layer structure comprising a second insulator and a charge transfer mediator arranged thereon for reacting the redox species is additionally arranged on the side of the collector electrode opposite the insulating substrate. The invention relates to two methods for operating the electrode arrangement.