Nowadays, electrochemical sensors and biosensors play a crucial role in modern life. This work highlights the importance of electrode material selection and chip design in optimizing sensor performance. It provides a practical guide for choosing suitable materials and structural configurations tailored to specific sensing applications, aiming to support the development of more efficient and application-driven electrochemical platforms.

Electrode material selection and structural designs of electrochemical chips are fundamental parameters in the field of electrochemical sensing. These parameters directly affect sensor conductivity, selectivity, stability, surface area, and overall performance. This article summarizes the most common electrode architectures and commercially available materials currently used in the development of electrochemical sensors, including carbon-based materials (e.g., boron-doped diamond, graphite, graphene, glassy carbon, carbon nanotubes, and carbon fibers), metal-based materials and alloys (e.g., gold, platinum, silver, nickel, and metal oxides), conductive polymers (e.g., polyaniline, polypyrrole, and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)), and redox dyes and mediators (Prussian blue, Meldola blue, etc.). It highlights the advantages of each category and identifies suitable electrode materials for specific target analytes. Finally, this review aims to guide readers in selecting appropriate electrode materials and designs tailored to a specific application.