The performance of inkjet-printed copper acetate based hydrogen sulfide gas sensor on a flexible plastic substrate - varying ink composition and print density

Abstract

Low-cost and robust hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gas sensors can be utilized in different industrial applications. Earlier we have demonstrated an inexpensive wirelessly readable copper acetate based H2S gas sensor which was successfully employed for monitoring the quality of raw poultry. In this study we have thoroughly investigated and optimized the performance of inkjet-printed copper acetate based H2S gas sensor on flexible plastic substrate at room temperature. The effect of ink composition, print density, number of print nozzles and temperature of the substrate on sensor performance was tested. The long term stability of these sensors after exposure to H2S was studied extensively and was optimized as a function of the print density of copper acetate. The conversion of copper acetate to copper sulfide upon reaction with H2S was established by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. We believe that the optimized sensor developed in this study with respect to stability, repeatability and material consumption will pave the way for the commercial use of these sensors e.g. in food quality monitoring and environmental applications.