Helium-assisted, solvent-free electro-activation of 3D printed conductive carbon-polylactide electrodes by pulsed laser ablation

Fused filament fabrication is one of the most rapidly developing 3D printing techniques, with numerous applications, including in field applied electrochemistry. Here, utilisation conductive carbon black polylactic acid (CB-PLA) for printouts promising. To use CB-PLA as an electrode material, activation process must be performed, removing polymer matrix and uncovering electrically filler. We present a novel, alternative approach towards Nd:YAG (? = 1064 nm) laser ablation. discuss efficiency based on various source operating conditions, gas matrix. The XPS, contact angle, Raman analyses were performed evaluation surface chemistry to mechanism process. ablation carried out inert (helium) delivers relatively high electrochemically active area electrode, while resultant charge transfer hindered when activated air plausibly due formation thermally induced oxide layers. electroanalytical performance laser-treated He atmosphere was confirmed through caffeine detection, offering detection limits 0.49 0.40 ?M (S/N 3) CV DPV studies, respectively.