Journal Article

Textile-Based Potentiometric Electrochemical pH Sensor for Wearable Applications

Yogeswaran, Nivasan, Dahiya, Ravinder, Manjakkal, Libu, Dang, Wenting

2019

Overview

In this work, we present a potentiometric pH sensor on textile substrate for wearable applications. The sensitive (thick film graphite composite) and reference electrodes (Ag/AgCl) are printed on cellulose-polyester blend cloth. An excellent adhesion between printed electrodes allow the textile-based sensor to be washed with a reliable pH response. The developed textile-based pH sensor works on the basis of electrochemical reaction, as observed through the potentiometric, cyclic voltammetry (100 mV/s) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopic (10 mHz to 1 MHz) analysis. The electrochemical double layer formation and the ionic exchanges of the sensitive electrode-pH solution interaction are observed through the electrochemical impedance spectroscopic analysis. Potentiometric analysis reveals that the fabricated textile-based sensor exhibits a sensitivity (slope factor) of 4 mV/pH with a response time of 5 s in the pH range 6–9. The presented sensor shows stable response with a potential of 47 ± 2 mV for long time (2000 s) even after it was washed in tap water. These results indicate that the sensor can be used for wearable applications.

• Publisher: MDPI AG,MDPI
• Subject: Biosensors / Cellulose / Cloth / Drinking water / e-textile / Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy / Electrochemistry / Electrodes / Electrolytes / Energy storage / Flexibility / Graphite / Impedance / Investigations / Metabolism / Morphology / pH effects / pH sensor / pH sensors / Polyesters / Polyethylene glycol / potentiometric / Potentiometric analysis / Response time / Screen printing / Sensors / Silver chloride / Spectroscopic analysis / Substrates / Textile fibers / wearable system / Wearable technology