The development of portable and scalable ionselective sensors (ISEs) is a critical step toward enabling realtime monitoring in biomedical diagnostics and industrial process control. This study focuses on the fabrication of potentiometric sensors with interdigitated electrodes (IDEs) using Aerosol Jet Printing (AJP) on Kapton and ceramic substrates. Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs) were employed as the interface material, leveraging their proven ability to enhance signal performance, as identified in previous research. Structural characterization through profilometric and microscopic analyses confirmed the uniformity and accuracy of the printed interdigitated sensors, showing trace widths of 210 \mu \mathrm{m} (Working Electrode) and 190 \mu \mathrm{~m} (Reference Electrode) with a spacing of 380 \mu \mathrm{~m}. The height of the traces increased from 3 \mu \mathrm{m}(\mathrm{Ag} / \mathrm{AgCl} deposition) to 7.58 \mu \mathrm{~m} (final Ion Selective Membrane deposition). Potentiometric measurements demonstrated a good Limit of Detection (4.8 \times 10^{-6} \mathrm{M}) and a sensitivity of 46.68 \mathrm{mV} / decade with a high linearity coefficient (\mathbf{R}^{\mathbf{2}}=\mathbf{0. 9 9 9}) in capturing potassium ions. Potassium was selected as a model analyte due to its dual importance in physiological and industrial systems. These preliminary findings highlight the feasibility and potential of AJP-fabricated sensors with MWCNTs interfaces for accurate ion detection in complex matrices. The scalability of this approach, combined with the versatility of MWCNTs-based materials, paves the way for the development of advanced multi-ion sensing platforms. Future improvements will focus on enhancing deposition uniformity and expanding detection capabilities to other relevant ions such as sodium and calcium.
Ion-Selective Sensors with Interdigitated Electrodes by Aerosol Jet Printing for Biomedical and Industrial Fields: A Preliminary Investigation
Polidori G.;Mahraoui S.;Serpelloni M.
2025-01-01
Abstract
The development of portable and scalable ionselective sensors (ISEs) is a critical step toward enabling realtime monitoring in biomedical diagnostics and industrial process control. This study focuses on the fabrication of potentiometric sensors with interdigitated electrodes (IDEs) using Aerosol Jet Printing (AJP) on Kapton and ceramic substrates. Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs) were employed as the interface material, leveraging their proven ability to enhance signal performance, as identified in previous research. Structural characterization through profilometric and microscopic analyses confirmed the uniformity and accuracy of the printed interdigitated sensors, showing trace widths of 210 \mu \mathrm{m} (Working Electrode) and 190 \mu \mathrm{~m} (Reference Electrode) with a spacing of 380 \mu \mathrm{~m}. The height of the traces increased from 3 \mu \mathrm{m}(\mathrm{Ag} / \mathrm{AgCl} deposition) to 7.58 \mu \mathrm{~m} (final Ion Selective Membrane deposition). Potentiometric measurements demonstrated a good Limit of Detection (4.8 \times 10^{-6} \mathrm{M}) and a sensitivity of 46.68 \mathrm{mV} / decade with a high linearity coefficient (\mathbf{R}^{\mathbf{2}}=\mathbf{0. 9 9 9}) in capturing potassium ions. Potassium was selected as a model analyte due to its dual importance in physiological and industrial systems. These preliminary findings highlight the feasibility and potential of AJP-fabricated sensors with MWCNTs interfaces for accurate ion detection in complex matrices. The scalability of this approach, combined with the versatility of MWCNTs-based materials, paves the way for the development of advanced multi-ion sensing platforms. Future improvements will focus on enhancing deposition uniformity and expanding detection capabilities to other relevant ions such as sodium and calcium.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
