Developing an Iridium Oxide Film Modified Microelectrode for Microscale Measurement of pH

Iridium oxide film modified microelectrode was fabricated by anodic oxidation method onto the tip of an etched iridium wire in diluted sulfuric acid solution by cyclic voltammetry. The iridium oxide film microelectrode exhibited very promising pH sensing performance, with an ideal Nernstian in the tested pH range of 0 to 14. This method for preparing microelectrode allowed accurately control of the deposited amount and the rate of the iridium oxide film growth. The electrodes demonstrated advantages of long lifetime, good selectivity and fast response with a relative time less than 0.2 s for pH changes in a large scale. The microelectrode was not interfered by a wide variety of inorganic ions and organic compounds. Furthermore, the electrodes were successfully applied to the measurement of pH in microscale of apples.