High-porous platinum electrodes for functional electrical stimulation

This paper reports on the preparation and characterization of highly porous platinum electrodes for functional electrical stimulation. Thin-film platinum electrodes were roughened by electrochemical deposition of platinum-copper alloys and subsequent removal of copper using cyclic voltammetry (CV). Prepared samples were characterized by electrochemical impedance spectroscopies (EIS), CVs and long-term pulse testing. The electrodes exhibited an increased porosity by a factor of ~238 when compared to sputtered platinum electrodes. EIS measurements showed a decreased impedance of about 85% and pulse tests suggested a stable coating over at least 250 million pulses.