The main advantages of using nanoelectrodes and arrays of nanoelectrodes include enhanced mass transport, lower capacitance, ability to work in smaller volumes and smaller overall device footprints.
The electrical current generated at an electrode is proportional to the electrode's geometric area. A disadvantage of using a single nanoelectrode is that it generates a small current output, which puts pressure on the instrumentation, and in turn, the reliability of the measurements recorded. One way to overcome this is the use an array of nanoelectrodes. The arrays produce a current, which is proportional with the number of electrodes in the array. This method has been used extensively in electroanalysis. Through the careful and accurate fabrication of arrays of nanoelectrodes, the electrochemical instrumentation is more reliable for sensitive measurement that enables implementation of a range of electroanalytical techniques.
There are two main types of arrangements; nanoelectrode arrays (NEAs) where the nanoelectrodes are spaced in an ordered arrangement and nanoelectrode ensembles (NEEs), where the individual nanoelectrodes are distributed randomly.