Printed Nanostructured Electrodes for Low-Cost Chlorine Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrochemical sensors for monitoring free chlorine, total chlorine, chlorine dioxide, and peracetic acid are expensive, require complex cleaning processes, and are not suitable for miniaturization, in situ application, or use of strong acids that generate pollutants, making them unsuitable for low-cost, easy-to-use water quality monitoring.
Innovation Solution
Development of nano- and micro-structured printed electrodes using carbon black and/or metal nanoparticles (gold, silver, platinum, copper) for electrochemical sensors, allowing for miniaturized, low-cost, and easy-to-use systems for monitoring these analytes without the need for strong acids or pollutants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If classical gold electrodes are used for electrochemical sensing, then measurement reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive bulk gold electrodes with inexpensive screen-printed gold nanoparticle electrodes that can be mass-produced and discarded after use. The working electrode is made with gold nanoparticles deposited on a screen-printed substrate, reducing material cost while maintaining sufficient measurement reliability for the application.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and size of gold from bulk material to nanoparticles, fundamentally altering the electrode's properties. This parameter change enables cost reduction through nanoparticle usage while maintaining electrochemical activity, and allows for miniaturization of the sensor device.
2Measurement precision
If bulk gold electrodes are used, then measurement precision is improved, but device miniaturization becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the scale of gold from bulk to nanoparticle level, enabling the electrode to be miniaturized while preserving measurement precision. The nanoparticle size and surface area-to-volume ratio are optimized to maintain electrochemical sensitivity in a compact format suitable for portable devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from three-dimensional bulk gold electrodes to two-dimensional screen-printed patterns with nanoparticle coverage. This dimensional change enables miniaturization while maintaining surface area for measurement, achieving compact device volume without sacrificing measurement precision.
3Volume of moving object
If screen-printed carbon sensors with Prussian Blue electrodeposition are used, then device miniaturization is achieved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the complex Prussian Blue electrodeposition step from the manufacturing process. Instead, it uses a simplified screen-printing method with gold nanoparticle ink that directly forms the working electrode without requiring additional electrochemical deposition steps, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining miniaturization.
4Measurement precision
If platinum electrodes are used for high sensitivity detection, then measurement precision is improved, but electrode passivation occurs in high chlorine concentrations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the electrode material from platinum to gold nanoparticles, altering the surface properties and electrochemical behavior. Gold nanoparticles maintain high detection sensitivity while resisting passivation in high chlorine concentrations, improving both measurement precision and electrode stability simultaneously.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The sensors provide accurate, low-cost, and easy-to-use monitoring of free chlorine, total chlorine, chlorine dioxide, and peracetic acid, with high sensitivity and repeatability, suitable for both single determinations and continuous monitoring, and are effective in complex matrices like swimming pool water.
Implementation Method 1
the electrochemical probes present on the market are constituted from classical gold electrodes coupled to Ag/AgX reference electrodes
Implementation Method 2
nano- or microparticles of carbon black and/or nano- or microparticles of a metal selected from the group consisting of gold, silver, platinum, copper
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to new electrochemical probes for the measure of an analyte selected from the group consisting of: free chlorine, chlorine dioxide, total chlorine and peracetic acid; characterized in that said probe includes at least a printed electrode nano- or micro-structured with a nano- or micromaterial selected from the group consisting of: nano- or microparticles of carbon black and/or nano- or microparticles of a metal selected from the group consisting of gold, silver, platinum, copper and combinations or alloys thereof.