Paper-Based Electrochemical Sensors Using Paper as a Scaffold to Create Porous Carbon Nanotube Electrodes

Abstract

Paper-based sensors and assays have evolved rapidly due to the conversion of paper-based microfluidics, functional paper coatings, as well as new electrical and optical readout techniques. Nanomaterials have gained substantial traction as key components in paper-based sensors, as they can be coated or printed relatively easily on paper to locally control the device functionality. Here we report a new combination of methods to fabricate carbon nanotube based (CNT) electrodes for paperbased electrochemical sensors using a combination of laser cutting, drop-casting and origami. We applied this process to a range of filter papers with different porosities, and used their differences in three-dimensional cellulose networks to study the influence of the cellulose scaffold on the final CNT network and the resulting electrochemical detection of glucose. We found that an optimal porosity exists which balances the benefits of surface enhancement and electrical connectivity within the cellulose scaffold of the paper-based device and demonstrate a cost-effective process for fabrication of device arrays.

Paper-based sensors for diagnostics, human activity monitoring, food safety and environmental detection

“…Electrochemical detection has become a commonly used detection method in paper-based disease detection due to its low cost, high sensitivity and high selectivity, especially for the detection of various blood analytes. 139 Paper-based devices based on electrochemical analysis were first proposed by Dungchai et al 140 Although many researchers continue to study paper-based sensors with wider detection ranges and more sensitivity, there is also a trend to develop paper-based sensors that can interface with portable devices to remove the need for large medical devices and professional medical personnel. 146 Nie et al 147 combined a simple electrochemical micro-paper analysis device with a commercial blood glucose meter to conduct a rapid and quantitative electrochemical analysis of many compounds related to human health, such as glucose, cholesterol, lactic acid and alcohol, in blood or urine.…”

An amphiprotic paper-based electrode for glucose detection based on layered carbon nanotubes with silver and polystyrene particles

“…In the process, the fabricated organic composite electrodes were prone to breaking due to their fragileness. 39 Also, the sensitivity and detection limit of available paper electrodes to glucose 1,[40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48] still need to be further improved.…”

Effect of Humidity and Temperature on the Impedances and Voltage of Al/Gr-Jelly/Cu-Rubber Composite-Based Flexible Electrochemical Sensors

“…The electrochemical sensors fabricated on paper (where the paper was used as a scaffold to create electrodes of porous carbon nanotubes) were investigated in Ref. [ 15 ]. The conjugated polymers-based electrochemical sensors were described in Ref.…”