Printable and flexible wireless oxygen sensor

Abstract

The sensor devices are becoming an essential aspect of electronics, while an accurate, economical, and printable device is constantly in high demand. Particularly, it is indispensable to develop the printed flexible sensor electronics with a fast response time, high sensitivity, and selectivity, as well as hybrid scalable manufacturing at a low cost. Here we demonstrate a printable and flexible oxygen amperometric sensor capable of operating at room temperature, in which the printed metal features are homogenously interlinked to form a dense and highly conductive mesh structure followed by a flexible hydrogel electrolyte layer. The printed oxygen sensor shows a response time of less than 2 s with a sensor response of 94.6% and the oxygen gas detection levels as low as 1.56 ppm. The sensing attributes of the printed devices with the added wireless feature show an immense promise for monitoring the oxygen levels, which provide a new rapid-sensing pathway for the packaging processes and remote monitoring devices for averting hazardous conditions.