Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Acute Responses to Arm-Crank Exercise on the Cardiovascular Function of Patients With Peripheral Artery Disease: A Randomized Crossover Trial.

Journal of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation and prevention·2026
Same author

Spray-Coated Melanin/PEDOT:PSS Films for Sustainable Organic Electrochemical Transistors.

Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE·2025
Same author

Correction: Nanophotonics of mid-infrared plasmon-polaritons at interfaces between metals and two-dimensional crystals.

Nanoscale·2025
Same author

Comparison of the acute effects of breaking up prolonged sitting time with single-task or a dual-task walking on cognitive function and cerebral blood flow in older adults: a randomized crossover trial.

GeroScience·2025
Same author

Noninvasive and Sensitive Biosensor for the Detection of Oral Cancer Prognostic Biomarkers.

Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)·2025
Same author

Nanophotonics of mid-infrared plasmon-polaritons at interfaces between metals and two-dimensional crystals.

Nanoscale·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 7, 2026

Microdialysis of Ethanol During Operant Ethanol Self-administration and Ethanol Determination by Gas Chromatography
10:11

Microdialysis of Ethanol During Operant Ethanol Self-administration and Ethanol Determination by Gas Chromatography

Published on: September 5, 2012

18.1K

A simple capacitive method to evaluate ethanol fuel samples.

Tatiana P Vello1,2, Rafael F de Oliveira1, Gustavo O Silva1

  • 1Brazilian Nanotechnology National Laboratory (LNNano), CNPEM, 13083-970, Campinas, SP, Brazil.

Scientific Reports
|February 28, 2017
PubMed
Summary

A new nanostructured sensor accurately detects water in ethanol fuel, crucial for preventing engine issues and fraud. This simple, fast device works across all water concentrations, offering a unique analytical tool.

More Related Videos

A Simple Way to Measure Ethanol Sensitivity in Flies
11:15

A Simple Way to Measure Ethanol Sensitivity in Flies

Published on: February 19, 2011

24.3K
Metal Corrosion and the Efficiency of Corrosion Inhibitors in Less Conductive Media
10:05

Metal Corrosion and the Efficiency of Corrosion Inhibitors in Less Conductive Media

Published on: November 3, 2018

18.6K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 7, 2026

Microdialysis of Ethanol During Operant Ethanol Self-administration and Ethanol Determination by Gas Chromatography
10:11

Microdialysis of Ethanol During Operant Ethanol Self-administration and Ethanol Determination by Gas Chromatography

Published on: September 5, 2012

18.1K
A Simple Way to Measure Ethanol Sensitivity in Flies
11:15

A Simple Way to Measure Ethanol Sensitivity in Flies

Published on: February 19, 2011

24.3K
Metal Corrosion and the Efficiency of Corrosion Inhibitors in Less Conductive Media
10:05

Metal Corrosion and the Efficiency of Corrosion Inhibitors in Less Conductive Media

Published on: November 3, 2018

18.6K

Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Chemical Engineering

Background:

  • Ethanol is a key biofuel, but water contamination poses significant risks.
  • High water content can lead to engine malfunction and is often illegal.
  • Current methods for water detection in ethanol can be complex or limited in range.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a simple, fast, and accurate sensor platform for evaluating water content in ethanol.
  • To create a device capable of operating across the full range of water concentrations in ethanol.
  • To provide a reliable analytical tool for quality control of ethanol fuel and other applications.

Main Methods:

  • Fabrication of a nanostructured sensor using standard microfabrication and thin-film deposition.
  • Utilizing capacitance measurements with a parallel plate capacitor featuring an aluminum oxide (Al2O3) thin layer.
  • Testing the sensor's performance across the entire water concentration spectrum in ethanol.

Main Results:

  • The developed sensor operates effectively from 0% to 100% vol. water in ethanol.
  • Water traces as low as 0.5% vol. are detectable.
  • Sensor results showed good agreement with gas chromatography analysis, validating its accuracy.

Conclusions:

  • The nanostructured sensor offers a unique and accurate method for quantifying water in ethanol.
  • Its full operational range and sensitivity make it suitable for point-of-care applications.
  • Potential applications include gas stations, chemical, pharmaceutical, and beverage industries.