Patterning of conducting layers on breathable substrates using laser engraving for gas sensors

Abstract

Most of the techniques used for micro and nano‐patterning currently are of high quality and reproducibility, but they require expensive equipment and involve many time‐consuming steps to achieve the desired results. We herein report a patterning method of conducting layers on breathable substrates using a fast, simple, and mask‐less laser engraving technique. A resolution in the range of 30 μm has been successfully achieved in this report. The method is fast and the pattern can be easily changed or redesigned within a few minutes. The patterning time for a 25 cm2 sample is approximately 3 minutes. In comparison, patterning a sample of the same size using photolithography requires up to 4 hours. In this manuscript, we describe the laser patterning process, how to improve the patterning resolution, the calibration steps involved as well as an application for organic electrochemical transistors as gas sensors for detecting oxygen or sulphur dioxide. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 42359.

A conductive stretchable PEDOT–elastomer hybrid with versatile processing and properties

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Organic electrochemical transistors

“…11 Textiles are yet another attractive carrier for OECTs, since it opens up for applications in wearable electronics. For instance, PEDOT-based transistors has been made on Gore-Tex, to enable gas sensors on "breathable" substrates, 89 and was also screen-printed on common fabrics to form a washable sensors for biomarker determination, targeting sensing of external biological fluids (e. g. sweat, saliva and urine). 90 Paper and textiles are built up from fibers and several attempts have been carried out to achieve OECT devices and even complex circuits on individual or combinations of fibers.…”

Gortex-Based Gas Diffusion Electrodes with Unprecedented Resistance to Flooding and Leaking

“…Other than the present series of studies [14][15] and several recent reports in which Gortex membranes were coated with weakly-catalytic conducting polymers and sputtered metals or used in microbial fuel cells, [16][17][18][19][20] Gortex does not appear to have been formally considered as an electrode substrate in its own right. Moreover, no attempt has been made to select (based on a commercially-available engineering specification) or study the physical properties of a coated Gortex-based gas diffusion electrode.…”

“…Sputter-coated Gortex electrodes have previously been described, but they had not been physical characterized. [16][17][18][19][20] It was decided to provide such a characterization in the present study for reference purposes and also to contrast with the particulate coated Gortex electrodes. This loading equated to a nominal thickness of 100 nm on a non-porous, solid substrate, according to the internal thickness monitor of the sputter-coater.…”