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Liquid Metal Fiber Mat as a Highly Stable Solid-State Junction for Inkjet-Printed Flexible Reference Electrodes
Xiao Lu1, Miao Zhang1,2, Liru Wang1
1Key Lab of Smart Agriculture Systems, Ministry of Education, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, PR China.
Analytical Chemistry
|April 28, 2022
Summary
A novel flexible reference electrode using liquid metal and a fiber mat membrane was developed. This electrode demonstrates exceptional stability and minimal potential fluctuation, making it ideal for electrochemical sensing applications.
Area of Science:
- Electrochemistry
- Materials Science
- Sensor Technology
Background:
- Flexible reference electrodes are crucial for portable electrochemical sensing.
- Existing electrodes often suffer from instability and limited lifespan.
- Developing robust and reliable flexible electrodes remains a significant challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel all-solid flexible reference electrode with enhanced stability.
- To investigate the performance of a liquid-metal-fiber-mat-based membrane flexible reference electrode (LMFM-FRE).
- To evaluate the potential of LMFM-FRE for large-scale manufacturing in electrochemical sensing.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of LMFM-FRE using liquid metal (eutectic gallium indium - EGaIn) and poly(styrene-block-butadiene-block-styrene) (SBS) as a liquid junction layer.
- Printing Ag ink and chlorination via electroplating to form the AgCl layer.
- Coating an electrolyte layer of agarose containing KCl and incorporating the LMFM liquid junction layer.
Main Results:
- The LMFM-FRE exhibited minimal potential fluctuation (<1 mV within 1 h, stable for 1 month).
- The electrode showed low potential sensitivity to changes in ion species, concentration, pH, and ambient light.
- LMFM-FRE demonstrated stable cyclic voltammetry characteristics and minimal potential changes under mechanical deformation and temperature variations.
Conclusions:
- The developed LMFM-FRE offers superior stability and durability compared to conventional flexible electrodes.
- The liquid junction layer significantly enhances electrode performance by increasing hydrophobicity and limiting internal ion loss.
- Inkjet printing fabrication enables scalable and cost-effective production of these advanced reference electrodes for diverse electrochemical sensing applications.
