Printed Potentiometric Ammonium Sensors for Agriculture Applications
Anju Toor1,2, Payton Goodrich2, Tyler L Anthony3
1School of Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States.
ACS Omega
|December 9, 2024
Summary
Fully printed ammonium sensors accurately measure ammonium concentrations in various soil types. These sensors are crucial for real-time monitoring in agriculture, aiding fertilizer management and understanding nitrogen loss.
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Science
- Environmental Science
- Sensor Technology
Background:
- Ammonium (NH4+) is vital for soil nutrient availability and nitrogen (N) loss.
- Real-time monitoring of ammonium is essential for effective agricultural practices and understanding N cycling.
- Existing sensor technologies face challenges in diverse soil environments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the performance of fully printed ammonium ion-selective sensors in various soil types.
- To evaluate sensor reliability under different soil moisture conditions.
- To assess the potential of printed sensors for real-time soil ammonium monitoring.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of printed ammonium ion-selective electrodes and Ag/AgCl reference electrodes.
- Characterization of sensors in aqueous solutions and three soil types (sand, peat, clay) across a range of ammonium concentrations (0.01-100 mM).
- Evaluation of sensor response under variable gravimetric moisture content to simulate field conditions.
Main Results:
- Sensors exhibited a sensitivity of 53.6 ± 5.1 mV/decade in aqueous solution.
- Sensitivities in soil were measured as 55.7 ± 11 mV/dec (sand), 57.5 ± 4.1 mV/dec (clay), and 43.7 ± 4 mV/dec (peat).
- Sensor performance was evaluated under varying soil moisture levels, indicating potential field applicability.
Conclusions:
- Fully printed ammonium sensors show promising performance across diverse soil types and conditions.
- These sensors offer a viable technology for real-time ammonium monitoring in agricultural and environmental applications.
- The developed sensors can contribute to improved fertilizer management and a better understanding of soil nitrogen dynamics.
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