Platinum microelectrodes with unique high surface areas

Nanostructured platinum films were electrodeposited onto microelectrodes fr om an hexagonal lyotropic liquid crystalline plating mixture. Cyclic voltam metry in dilute sulfuric acid and copper underpotential deposition confirme d that the resulting platinum films had high surface areas (with roughness factors of ca. 210) as a direct consequence of their electrochemically acce ssible nanostructure. The microelectrodes were shown to combine a high real surface area with efficient mass transport characteristics. This combinati on of properties is unique and may be of significance to the fields of elec trochemistry and electroanalysis.