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Eye-recognizable and repeatable biochemical flexible sensors using low angle-dependent photonic colloidal crystal
Mio Tsuchiya1, Yuta Kurashina2,3, Hiroaki Onoe4
1Graduate School of Integrated Design Engineering, Keio University, 3-14-1 Hiyoshi, Kohoku-Ku, Yokohama, 223-8522, Japan.
Scientific Reports
|November 21, 2019
Summary
New flexible sensors use photonic colloidal crystal hydrogel (PCCG) microbeads for angle-independent, repeatable biochemical detection. These user-friendly devices offer a novel approach for monitoring environmental and healthcare targets.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Biomedical Engineering
- Chemical Sensors
Background:
- Traditional biochemical sensors often require specific viewing angles or are prone to mechanical deformation, limiting their practical application.
- Developing user-friendly, angle-independent sensors is crucial for widespread adoption in environmental and healthcare monitoring.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop eye-recognizable and repeatable biochemical flexible sensors using stimuli-responsive photonic colloidal crystal hydrogel (PCCG) microbeads.
- To demonstrate the efficacy of these sensors for detecting temperature and ethanol concentration without angle dependency.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of temperature- and ethanol-responsive PCCG microbeads using N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) and N-methylolacrylamide (NMAM).
- Utilized a centrifuge-based droplet shooting device (CDSD) for microbead production.
- Demonstrated thin and flexible biochemical sensor prototypes for sensing applications.
Main Results:
- The developed PCCG microbeads exhibited structural color, enabling angle-independent sensing.
- Successful demonstration of temperature sensing (e.g., human skin temperature) and ethanol sensing (e.g., alcoholic beverage concentration).
- Sensing information was accurately obtained by comparing structural color with a color chart.
Conclusions:
- The novel angle-independent, stimuli-responsive PCCG microbeads offer a user-friendly platform for biochemical sensing.
- This technology has the potential to advance the development of accessible sensor devices for environmental and healthcare monitoring.
