Digital Microfabrication on Paper and Cloth for Heavy Metal Detection and Remediation

Abstract

This study introduces a novel and rapid digital fabrication technique for transferring metals on flexible substrates such as cloth, paper, and thermo-resistant films, and demonstrates a low-cost method for prototyping and producing micro/nano flexible sensors and devices. A set of office equipment such as a laser jet printer, a thermal laminator, a craft cutting machine, and inexpensive copper leaf sheets (for furniture restoration) is used for this technique. The proposed method takes advantage of the strong adhesion property of the laser jet toner particles on printed patterns under heating. The applications have been demonstrated for the detection and remediation of heavy metal contaminants in water with devices made on paper and cloth, respectively.