title: Surface and Electrical Characterization of Ag/AgCl Pseudo-Reference Electrodes Manufactured with Commercially Available PCB Technologies.
abstract: Lab-on-Chip is a technology that could potentially revolutionize medical Point-of-Care diagnostics. Considerable research effort is focused towards innovating production technologies that will make commercial upscaling financially viable. Printed circuit board manufacturing techniques offer several prospects in this field. Here, we present a novel approach to manufacturing Printed Circuit Board (PCB)-based Ag/AgCl reference electrodes, an essential component of biosensors. Our prototypes were characterized both structurally and electrically. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) were employed to evaluate the electrode surface characteristics. Electrical characterization was performed to determine stability and pH dependency. Finally, we demonstrate utilization along with PCB pH sensors, as a step towards a fully integrated PCB platform, comparing performance with discrete commercial reference electrodes.
authors.affiliation: Nanoelectronics and Nanotechnology Research Group, Southampton Nanofabrication Centre, Electronics and Computer Science, University of Southampton, SO17 1BJ Southampton, UK. D.Moschou@soton.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Despina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Moschou
authors.affiliation: Nanoelectronics and Nanotechnology Research Group, Southampton Nanofabrication Centre, Electronics and Computer Science, University of Southampton, SO17 1BJ Southampton, UK. T.Trantidou@soton.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Tatiana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Trantidou
authors.affiliation: Nanoelectronics and Nanotechnology Research Group, Southampton Nanofabrication Centre, Electronics and Computer Science, University of Southampton, SO17 1BJ Southampton, UK. a.regoutz@imperial.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Regoutz
authors.affiliation: Nanoelectronics and Nanotechnology Research Group, Southampton Nanofabrication Centre, Electronics and Computer Science, University of Southampton, SO17 1BJ Southampton, UK. D.Carta@soton.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Carta
authors.affiliation: Nanoelectronics and Nanotechnology Research Group, Southampton Nanofabrication Centre, Electronics and Computer Science, University of Southampton, SO17 1BJ Southampton, UK. hm@ecs.soton.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Hywel
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.affiliation: Nanoelectronics and Nanotechnology Research Group, Southampton Nanofabrication Centre, Electronics and Computer Science, University of Southampton, SO17 1BJ Southampton, UK. T.Prodromakis@soton.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Themistoklis
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Prodromakis
mesh_terms: D004560:Electricity; D004566:Electrodes; D004581:Electronics / Q000379:methods*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D056951:Photoelectron Spectroscopy; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate / Q000737:chemistry; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry*; D018030:Silver Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties; D017971:Tin Compounds / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D018030:Silver Compounds; D017971:Tin Compounds; D012834:Silver; C109984:indium tin oxide; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate; C037548:silver chloride
keywords: Ag/AgCl; Lab-on-Chip; Lab-on-PCB; PCB technology; biosensing; integrated reference electrode