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CLIP: Carbon Dioxide testing suitable for Low power microelectronics and IOT interfaces using Room temperature Ionic
Ashlesha Bhide1, Badrinath Jagannath1, Ambalika Tanak1
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas at Dallas, 800W Campbell Rd., Richardson, TX, 75080, USA.
Scientific Reports
|February 15, 2020
Summary
A novel electrochemical sensor prototype using room-temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) offers a portable, low-power solution for monitoring carbon dioxide (CO2) levels. This technology enables accurate room occupancy detection and enhances building management for improved air quality and energy efficiency.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Sensor Technology
Background:
- Maintaining indoor air quality and energy efficiency in buildings necessitates monitoring carbon dioxide (CO2) levels.
- Smart building systems can utilize CO2 sensing for occupancy detection based on human respiration.
- Existing CO2 sensing methods may lack portability, low power consumption, or non-invasive capabilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and demonstrate the feasibility of an electrochemical sensor prototype for CO2 detection in human breath.
- To create a portable, low-power, non-invasive CO2 sensor suitable for smart building management and occupancy monitoring.
- To evaluate the performance characteristics of the developed RTIL-based CO2 sensor.
Main Methods:
- Development of an electrochemical sensor prototype utilizing a room-temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) sensing element.
- Integration of the RTIL sensing element with low-power microelectronics and IoT interfaces for passive monitoring.
- Characterization of the sensor's performance including dynamic range, response/reset times, sensitivity, and selectivity using AC-based electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and DC-based chronoamperometry.
Main Results:
- The prototype demonstrated a wide dynamic range (400-8000 ppm), fast response (~10 s), and reset times (~6 s).
- A high calibration response (R² of 0.956) and sensitivity (29 pF/ppm) towards CO2 were achieved.
- The sensor exhibited three times greater selectivity for CO2 over nitrogen (N2) and oxygen (O2) at ambient conditions.
Conclusions:
- The developed RTIL-based electrochemical sensor prototype is feasible for CO2 detection in exhaled breath.
- Its portability, low power, and IoT compatibility make it suitable for passive room occupancy monitoring in smart buildings.
- The sensor's performance metrics indicate its potential as an effective tool for improving indoor air quality and energy management.
