3D-printed electrochemical cells with laser engraving: developing portable electroanalytical devices for forensic...

Area of Science:

• Electrochemistry
• Materials Science
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Development of rapid, portable analytical tools for detecting harmful substances is crucial.
• Atropine (ATR) is a substance found in beverages with illicit uses, necessitating reliable detection methods.
• Existing detection methods may lack the portability and speed required for on-site forensic analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel electrochemical device combining 3D printing and laser-induced graphene (LIG) sensors.
• To develop a portable and sensitive method for detecting atropine (ATR) in beverage samples.
• To evaluate the device's performance for on-site forensic applications.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of an electrochemical cell using fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printing with acrylonitrile butadiene styrene and a conductive filament.
• Generation of laser-induced graphene (LIG) sensors via infrared-laser conversion of a polyimide substrate.
• Electrochemical analysis using differential-pulse voltammetry for atropine detection.

Main Results:

• The 3D-printed device with LIG sensors demonstrated excellent electrochemical sensing properties for atropine.
• Achieved a linear detection range of 5–35 μmol L⁻¹, a detection limit of 1 μmol L⁻¹, and good precision (RSD = 4.7%).
• Successfully applied to real beverage samples with recovery rates from 80–105% and demonstrated selectivity against common interfering species.

Conclusions:

• The integrated 3D printing and LIG sensor approach provides a sensitive and selective platform for atropine detection.
• The developed device is a viable portable analytical tool for on-site forensic analysis of beverages.
• This technology offers a promising solution for rapid screening of illicit substances in various environments.