title: Continuous flow analytical microsystems based on low-temperature co-fired ceramic technology. Integrated potentiometric detection based on solvent polymeric ion-selective electrodes.
abstract: In this paper, the low-temperature co-fired ceramics (LTCC) technology, which has been commonly used for electronic applications, is presented as a useful alternative to construct continuous flow analytical microsystems. This technology enables not only the fabrication of complex three-dimensional structures rapidly and at a realistic cost but also the integration of the elements needed to carry out a whole analytical process, such as pretreatment steps, mixers, and detection systems. In this work, a simple and general procedure for the integration of ion-selective electrodes based on liquid ion exchanger is proposed and illustrated by using ammonium- and nitrate-selective membranes. Additionally, a screen-printed reference electrode was easily incorporated into the microfluidic LTCC structure allowing a complete on-chip integration of the potentiometric detection. Analytical features of the proposed systems are presented.
authors.affiliation: Grup de Sensors i Biosensors, Departament de Química Analítica, Edifici C, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallés, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Nuria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ibanez-Garcia
authors.forename: Manel Bautista
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Mercader
authors.forename: Zaira
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mendes da Rocha
authors.forename: Carlos Antonio
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Seabra
authors.forename: Mario Ricardo
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Góngora-Rubio
authors.forename: Julian Alonso
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Chamarro
mesh_terms: D002516:Ceramics / Q000737:chemistry*; D004566:Electrodes; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D009566:Nitrates / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D011199:Potentiometry / Q000379:methods; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D009566:Nitrates; D011108:Polymers; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; D012997:Solvents; D012834:Silver