Preparation and characterization of platinum black electrodes

We have investigated properties of electrochemically deposited platinum bla ck by atomic force and scanning electron microscopy. Platinum black was dep osited on evaporated platinum electrodes. Deposition time and cure temperat ure was found to influence the quality and morphology of the platinum black layer. Morphological inclusions were readily observed in films deposited f or duration of less than 60 seconds at a bias of 1.5 V against a platinum c ounter electrode. Shorting of the microfabricated electrodes due to lateral outgrowth of high surface area platinum black was observed when current de nsities on the order of 100 mA cm(-2) were employed. We further show that r eproducibility of highly adherent platinized electrodes is achieved. (C) 20 00 Kluwer Academic Publishers.