Iridium Oxide Enabled Sensors Applications

There have been numerous studies applying iridium oxides in different applications to explore their proton-change-based reactions since the 1980s. Iridium oxide can be fabricated directly by applying electrodeposition, sputter-coating method, or oxidation of iridium wire. Generally, there have been currently two approaches in applying iridium oxide to enable its sensing applications. One was to improve or create different electrolytes with (non-)electrodeposition method for better performance of Nernst Constant with the temperature-related system. The mechanism behind the scenes were summarized herein. The other was to change the structure of iridium oxide through different kinds of templates such as photolithography patterns, or template-assisted direct growth methods, etc. to improve the sensing performance. The detection targets varied widely from intracellular cell pH, glucose in an artificial sample or actual urine sample, and the hydrogen peroxide, glutamate or organophosphate pesticides, metal-ions, etc. This review paper has focused on the mechanism of electrodeposition of iridium oxide in aqueous conditions and the sensing applications towards different biomolecules compounds. Finally, we summarize future trends on Iridium oxide based sensing and predict future work that could be further explored.

On deformation behavior of polycrystalline iridium at room temperature. How structure rules by mechanical properties

Deformation and fracture behaviour of the cold drawing iridium wire under tension at room temperature is examined. The high pure polycrystalline iridium was manufactured with the usage of the pirometallurgical technology. On the initial stage of the cold rolling, iridium wire has usual grain structure and exhibits the brittle deformation behaviour: a poor plasticity and the brittle transgranular fracture. However, the wire begins demonstrating the high plasticity including necking in spite of the brittle fracture mode when the lamella structure has been formed in iridium during the cold drawing.

An Analysis of Laser-Welded Nicr-Ir and Nicr-Pt Micro Joints on Spark Plug Electrodes in Biogas-Fuelled Engines

The paper deals with the laser beam welding of tips to central and side spark plug electrodes made of a nickel-chromium alloy. The tips attached to the central electrodes were made from a solid iridium wire 0.8 mm in diameter and 2 mm in length, while the tips connected to the side electrodes were made from a platinum wire 1.5 mm in diameter and 0.25 mm in thickness. In both cases, accurate positioning of the tips was required before they were resistance welded to the electrodes. Then, a fillet weld was produced with an Nd:YAG laser using single, partly overlapping conductive pulses. The laser welding was performed at different laser power levels and pulse durations. Metallographic sections of the joints were prepared to observe changes in the microstructure and determine their correlation with the changes in the process parameters. The results were used to select appropriate welding parameters for the materials joined. The microscopic analysis indicated welding imperfections such as micro cracks at the interface between the elements joined. The tips welded to the spark plug electrodes can help extend the service life of spark plugs in highly corrosive environments.

Fabrication and Characterization of Platinum-Iridium Electrodes with Micro-Structured Surfaces For Neural Stimulation Applications

Controlled structuring of electrode surfaces on a microscopic scale is expected to decrease the impedance and improve the current injection capabilities of neural stimulation electrodes. We have identified conditions for the fabrication of micro-bumps on platinum-iridium alloy surfaces by means of KrF excimer laser (λ=248nm) irradiation under ambient conditions. A regular array of closely spaced micro-bumps with diameters of about 5µm and heights of about 3µm was generated on the polished face of a platinum-20%iridium wire with a diameter of 75µm. A projection system with a demagnification factor of 9 was used to image a mask with a pattern of circular-holes on the polished face of the wire. Several thousand pulses at a repetition rate of 10Hz and a fluence of 3.0 J/cm2 were applied to produce the micro-bumps. The modified electrode surfaces were studied by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, and the results show the formation of micro-bumps of reproducible shape. Simple two-electrode AC impedance measurements in physiological saline in the frequency range of interest to neural stimulation applications show a considerable decrease in the impedance of micro-structured electrodes with respect to the impedance of a polished electrode.

Surgical Implantation and Biocompatibility of Central Nervous System Auditory Prostheses

As part of a program to determine the feasibility of a CNS auditory prosthesis, the tissue reaction to electrodes chronically implanted in the cochlear nucleus (CN) of the guinea pig was examined. Varied open operative approaches and microelectrode designs were utilized. Silicon substrate thin film and platinum-iridium wire electrodes, tethered and untethered, were placed successfully in different divisions of the CN. Implantation through a posterior suboccipital approach was most successful. Histologic examinations demonstrated a glial cell proliferation confined to the area of the electrode track that never exceeded 15 μm in width. No neuronal loss or significant effect on cell morphology was seen, and reactive cells were absent. Electrode migration was apparent in a minority of animal preparations. Although potential problems were identified, our findings lend support to the feasibility of implanting a neuroprosthesis in the CN and have helped to establish methods for future studies of chronic intranuclear stimulation.