Hydrothermal Growth of Zinc Oxide (ZnO) Nanorods (NRs) on Screen Printed IDEs for pH Measurement Application

There is considerable interest in nanostructured materials with interdigitated electrodes (IDEs) platforms to detect and monitor the level of various ions in numerous applications. Herein, we report the design and fabrication of IDEs based pH sensor by using hydrothermal growth of ZnO nanorods (NRs). A four-step deposition of ZnO seed layer followed by a hydrothermal treatment lead to the heavily ordered ZnO NRs patterns on the screen printed IDEs. The structural, chemical compositional and electrical properties of the NRs were investigated and examined by using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FeSEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique and Keithley 4200 semiconductor characterization system respectively. The sensor capacitance and pH were found to be inversely proportional at a working frequency of 1 kHz. The sensor displayed sensitivity of 1.06 nF/pH in the range of pH 4−10

Plasma-Aided Inkjet Printing of Silver Nanoparticle Conductive Structures on PDMS for Wearable Applications

We report an atmospheric plasma-aided inkjet printing of silver nanoparticles on Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrates. This innovative approach diverges from traditional inkjet printing techniques by enabling the deposition of conductive materials onto stretchable bases, thus facilitating the creation of highly conductive and flexible electronic structures, such as Wi-Fi antennas, for wearable devices. Our study underscores the effectiveness of utilizing a plasma jet to print silver nanoparticle ink directly onto PDMS, circumventing the need for conventional high-temperature sintering. We emphasize the critical role of a rapid post-print plasma treatment, which serves as a low-temperature alternative to high-temperature sintering, in substantially enhancing the conductivity and performance of the printed structures. This low-temperature process marks a significant step forward in developing durable, flexible electronics, offering a sustainable and efficient pathway for future advancements in wearable technology