Introduction and Demo of Screen Printed Electrodes

by | Jun 19, 2025 | Uncategorized

Today we did a live demonstration of screen printed electrodes, both for academic research and commercialisation.

ZP Screen Printed Electrodes
ZP SIA Potentiostat
Contact ZP

What We Covered

1. Introduction to Zimmer and Peacock

  • Founded in 2014, ZP is ISO 13485 certified, specializing in electrochemical biosensor development and manufacturing.

  • Our product portfolio includes screen-printed electrodes, potentiostats, and biosensing solutions.

2. Why Screen-Printed Electrodes?

SPEs are a low-cost, easy-to-use platform with minimal sample prep—ideal for real-world applications. A great example? Glucose test strips, which demonstrate the power of SPEs in commercial biosensing.

3. Collaboration with IO Rodeo

  • IO Rodeo has been distributing ZP’s 501 carbon electrodes in the U.S. since 2023.

  • They offer packs of 10 or sheets of 100, making SPEs accessible for universities and startups.

  • IO Rodeo specializes in open-source scientific hardware, including potentiostats and customizable instruments.

4. Turning SPEs into Biosensors

We discussed three key applications:

  • Ion-selective electrodes (e.g., potassium, sodium) using ionophores.

  • Small molecule detection (e.g., glucose, lactate) with enzyme-based sensors.

  • Immunosensors (e.g., antibodies, aptamers) for proteins, viruses, and bacteria.

5. Live Electrochemistry Demos

We ran real-time experiments, including:

  • Cyclic voltammetry with ferricyanide.

  • Caffeine detection in a commercial beverage (Red Bull), showing how SPEs deliver fast, accurate results.

6. The “Valley of Death” in Commercialization

Many academic projects get stuck in early-stage development. At ZP, we focus on bridging the gap between research and market-ready products by ensuring repeatability, scalability, and ease of use.

7. Key Takeaways

  • Carbon electrodes (like the 501) offer a low-cost, high-performance alternative to gold or platinum.

  • Small sample volumes (just 50 µL!) make SPEs efficient for R&D.

  • Open-source tools (like IO Rodeo’s potentiostat) and cloud-based data analysis (ZP’s Djuli system) streamline electrochemical workflows.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re in academia, a startup, or an industry lab, screen-printed electrodes offer a versatile, scalable platform for biosensing. And with partners like IO Rodeo, getting started is easier than ever.