Develop and apply a multifunctional 3D printer to fabricate electrochemical sensors

Abstract

The recent emergence of three-dimensional (3D) printing technology has revolutionized the development of electrochemical sensors. This innovative approach offers a remarkable opportunity to create electrode geometries with accurate precision. By harnessing 3D printing, researchers can rapidly prototype, and manufacture sensor designs at a relatively low cost.

In the work I have done here, I investigated the potential of utilizing readily available commercial filament and fused deposition modelling (FDM) 3D printing as a straightforward and cost-effective route to fabricate electrochemical sensors. The investigation was conducted as a part of the DiHub project.

In this specific study, an electrochemical sensor is fabricated using the Nanotech Printers FDM method, demonstrating the versatility and accessibility of this technique. The ability to achieve complex electrode structures with high precision, along with decent resistivity of the filament, paves the way for the development of sensors tailored for different applications.

I fabricated an electrochemical sensor that has relatively low resistivity by using filaments of graphene (commercial name Koltron G1) with a diameter of 1.75mm sourced from Addnorth and Electrically Conductive Composite PLA with a diameter of 1.75mm sourced from proto pasta.