Electrochemical Sensors Enabled by 3D Printing: A Tutorial for Beginners

Abstract

The use of additive manufacturing or three-dimensional (3D) printing has revolutionized different fields of science. Among the well-known advantages of this new technology, its low cost, reproducibility, large-scale production, and freedom to manufacture custom-made devices can be highlighted. In electrochemistry, 3D printing has been widely used in the manufacture of low-cost and semi-disposable electrochemical sensors. However, new users of this technology starting in this field may find many obstacles about several aspects involving 3D printing. In this sense, this article explores and details some relevant information on 3D printing for the development of electrochemical sensors to be a tutorial for beginners. Special attention is given to fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printing technology, widely applied for electrochemical purposes. Post-treatment of 3D-printed electrodes considering electrochemical applications is critically discussed. Examples of electrochemical sensors and biosensors are presented to highlight the potential applications of this technology in electrochemical sensors.