Integrated pH Sensors Based on RuO 2 /GO Nanocomposites Fabricated Using the Aerosol Jet Printing Method

• Published in: ACS omega 2023-12, Vol.8 (49), p.46794-46803
• Main Authors: Taheri, Mahtab, Ketabi, Mohsen, Al Shboul, Ahmad M, Mahinnezhad, Shirin, Izquierdo, Ricardo, Deen, M Jamal
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2470-1343; 2470-1343
• DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c06309

An aerosol jet printing (AJP) process for depositing ruthenium dioxide (RuO ) as a promising material for pH sensing is reported. Graphene oxide (GO) with a large surface area was used for the in situ sol-gel deposition of RuO nanoparticles on its surface. The cosolvent ratio and solid loading of the solution are adjusted to form a printable and stable ink. The monodispersed aerosol was atomized on the surface of the screen-printed carbon electrode in order to develop an integrated pH sensor. The RuO -GO pH sensor demonstrates excellent performance, with a rapid response time of less than 5 s and high sensitivity in the pH range of 4-10. Compared to traditional carbon electrodes, the RuO -GO sensor shows up to four times higher sensitivity. The increased sensitivity is a result of the consistent attachment of small-crystallized RuO nanoparticles onto the surface of GO sheets, leading to a synergistic effect. Thanks to the AJP method as a facile and cost-effective integration technique, the fabricated electrodes can serve as an alternative to traditional rigid pH electrodes for accurate pH measurement.