Microarrays of vertically-aligned carbon nanofiber electrodes in an open fluidic channel

Fabrication and electrochemical characterization of microarrays of individually addressable vertically aligned carbon nanofiber electrodes contained within an open fluidic channel are described. Compatibility of the deterministic synthesis of vertically aligned nanofibers with conventional microfabrication techniques enables the development of relatively complex, functional multilevel devices that may be produced efficiently in large numbers. The vertical orientation of nanofibers provides a basis for small volume electroanalyses in probing regions elevated above the planar substrate, which can enable applications including electroanalysis within and around live cell matrixes, high aspect ratio probing structures for scanning electrochemical microscopy, and channel-resident electrodes with high capture efficiency for electrochemical detection of microfluidic chemical separations.