학술논문
Flexible screen-printed nitrate sensors with Cu nanoclusters: a comparative analysis on the effect of carbon nanotubes
Document Type
Conference
Author
Source
2021 IEEE International Conference on Flexible and Printable Sensors and Systems (FLEPS) Flexible and Printable Sensors and Systems (FLEPS), 2021 IEEE International Conference on. :1-4 Jun, 2021
Subject
Language
Abstract
In this work, we present a novel flexible amperometric sensor for nitrate detection, based on a silver (Ag) working electrode modified with single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and copper (Cu). A simple and low-cost fabrication technique combining printing and electrochemical deposition was used: after spray deposition of SWCNTs on the screen-printed Ag working electrode, Cu was electrodeposited. The electrochemical performance of our sensors was analyzed and compared to reference sensors fabricated without SWCNTs (Cu/Ag), proving the capability of SWCNTs to improve the sensitivity and the performance of the sensors thanks to the increased electroactive surface area. In fact, the Cu/SWCNTs/Ag sensors showed higher catalytic activity towards the electro-reduction of nitrate (sensitivity: 18.19 µA/mM), as well as a lower limit of detection (LOD: 0.281 nM) in comparison to the Cu/Ag sensors (sensitivity: 12.19 µA/mM and LOD: 0.381 nM). Full sensor functionality after repetitive mechanical bending to 5 mm radius was also proven.