This starter kit makes entry into microelectrode production technology easy for researchers who have not yet produced any microelectrodes themselves. It contains all the necessary aids, components and consumables. A puller must be purchased separately, see page M52. In addition to manual dexterity which is always necessary, the user requires a binocular transmitted-light microscope with eyepiece graticule and up to 500X magnification for optical checking of the tip diameter.
The kit is suitable for producing intracellular microelectrodes using borosilicate glass capillaries with an integral
filament, see pages M45 to M49. The filament makes microelectrode filling easy. Special filling devices, such as vacuum filling equipment, are therefore not required. In addition to a transport and storage container for completed microelectrodes, the kit also includes a specially developed electrolytic chloridation unit for producing an AgCl film on silver electrodes, see to the left. Controlled application of the AgCl film through the selection of current density and chloridation period in the case of the electrolytic chloridation method, together with the good reproducibility of the AgCl film, readily justify the increased cost of purchasing the electrical
chloridation equipment. By contrast, chemical chloridation involves less equipment but produces poorer chloridation results and has negative effects on the environment.
The kit includes:
Materials: Pack of 1.5 mm OD glass capillaries with filament, 10 m pure silver wire, 0.2 mm dia., fine solder wire, emery paper, Scotch-Brite cleaning sponge, KCl and NaCl powder, connecting pins for the microelectrodes, and sealing wax.
Tools: 18 W, 230 V miniature, curved soldering tweezers, straight soldering tweezers, fixation tweezers, clamping stand as aid for soldering the micro pins, electrolytic chloridation Auto Chloridizer, transport and storage container for micro-electrodes, special microelectrode holder with miniature socket, and illustrated book about the microelectrode technology.