A Printed and Microfabricated Sensor Device for the Sensitive Low Volume Measurement of Aqueous Ammonia

Brannelly, N. T.; Killard, A. J.; Brannelly, Niamh; Killard, Anthony

Abstract

© 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim The measurement of low concentrations of ammonia in small sample volumes is required in biological, biomedical and environmental measurement applications. However, achieving this without instrumentation remains challenging. Here, sensor devices for the measurement of ammonia in a liquid were developed. These were based on the fabrication of polyaniline nanoparticle films onto screen printed interdigitated electrodes using inkjet printing and their integration into a polymer microfabricated device with polytetrafluroethylene membrane and air flow path between the membrane and the sensor. Samples of ammonia in phosphate buffered saline of 52 μL were measured using electrochemical impedance. While water vapour and ions from the buffer did result in a decrease in sensor impedance, this was eradicated by displacement of the headspace above the sensor with air. This, in combination with the adjustment of the sample to pH to 11 allowed the quantification of ammonia from 0 to 200 μM with a limit of detection of 25 μM. The device has the potential to be used for sensitive, low volume measurement applications of ammonia at point-of-test and point-of-care.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 22, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Nov 2, 2016
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2017
• Deposit Date: Dec 19, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 14, 2017
• Journal: Electroanalysis
• Print ISSN: 1040-0397
• Electronic ISSN: 1521-4109
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 29
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 162-171
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/elan.201600556
• Keywords: Ammonia, polyaniline, sensor, membrane, microfabrication, impedance
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/900680
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/elan.201600556
• Additional Information: Additional Information : This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Brannelly, N. and Killard, A. (2016) A printed and microfabricated sensor device for the sensitive low volume measurement of aqueous ammonia. Electroanalysis, which has been published in final form at http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/elan.201600556. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.
• Contract Date: Jan 4, 2017