Abstract
This paper investigates all-printed gas sensors developed on different unconventional substrates and their effect of the detection of various volatile organic compounds (VOCs). An inkjet printing system is used to deposit the functional materials on PET (polyethylene terephthalate), paper and cotton fabric substrates. The different surface morphology and texture of the substrates are explored and used for developing the VOC sensors. Silver (Ag) nanoparticles based ink is used for printing the interdigital electrodes and the interconnect lines, whereas carbon black paste is used as the sensing layer. Sensors are tested against two different concentrations i.e. 4 and 22 ppm (parts per million) of three types of VOCs, i.e. acetone, ethanol and isopropanol. The comparative studies show a strong dependence of the VOCs detection on the type of substrates. Pros and cons of all the substrates, based on the processability, wearability, sensitivity and response times etc. are evaluated. This research presents significant contribution towards developing large area, low-cost and wearable VOC sensors, which are highly demanding in industrial and environmental monitoring as well as for potential analytes in biosensors to detect various chronic diseases.
Highlights
Additive manufacturing of large area sensors and transducers through digital fabrication i.e. printing techniques have seen a boosting trend in the last decade [1]–[3]
We presented a cost-effective approach towards detection of various volatile organic compounds (VOCs) through printed sensors based on a carbon black sensing film
The film was printed on three different substrates to investigate the printability, physical and electrical characteristics of the printed layers and performance of the sensors against different VOCs
Summary
Additive manufacturing of large area sensors and transducers through digital fabrication i.e. printing techniques have seen a boosting trend in the last decade [1]–[3]. PET substrate was treated using UV ozone for 3 minutes, which was optimized experimentally by changing the treatment time and observing the print quality on the substrate The printing parameters such as jetting waveform, drop velocity (7mm/sec), stage temperature (45 ◦C), frequency of 2 kHz, stand-off at 500 μm and droplet spacing at 25 μm were selected in the Dimatix drop. PET substrate was treated again with UV ozone after finishing the initial fabrication step of Ag electrodes and sintering in the oven This allows enhancing the adhesion of carbon paste to the target substrate. Two coating cycles were executed with an interlayer time interval of 10 minutes This delay and the heated stage provide a supporting platform for wet-on-dry deposition of the second layer, which is useful for attaining sensors with uniform boundaries, thickness and improved adhesion to the target substrate. A final heat treatment at 120 ◦C was applied to complete the conductive epoxy curing establishing a strong and electrically stable connection
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