Direct quantitative electroanalysis of submilligram quantities of nanoscale, high-surface-area electroactive powders is achieved by hand-pressing the solids onto the surface of a carbon–wax composite electrode. Since this ‘sticky carbon’ method does not require solvents or polymer binders to create electrode structures, such as cast films, one may now examine the innate electrochemical character of nanoscale materials. Electrode preparation with sticky carbon is rapid and simple and offers a convenient means to screen high-surface-area electrode materials whose inherently high RC time constants can compromise the resolution of the faradaic information. The effects on the electrochemical character of electrocatalysts, active materials in batteries, electrochromic materials, etc., of the common constituents (e.g. solvents, polymer binders, ionomers) and processes/forces (temperatures, pressures) necessary to create practical electrode structures may now be methodically explored.