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Thick-film screen printed silver–silver chloride (Ag/AgCl) reference electrodes have been fabricated and investigated as an alternative to liquid electrolyte Ag/AgCl reference electrodes. The performance of the electrodes was examined with variations of the potassium chloride (KCl) concentration in the final (top) layer of the electrode. Also, different types of binder (glass and polymer) were tested for the underlying Ag/AgCl layer. The addition of another layer on top of the KCl containing salt matrix layer has been found to provide a better stability in varying concentrations of KCl test solutions. The electrodes were found to give a satisfactory performance when tested for stability in different pH solutions.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to report thick film environmental and chemical sensor arrays designed for deployment in both subterranean and submerged aqueous applications. Design/methodology/approach – Various choices of materials for reference electrodes employed in these different applications have been evaluated and the responses of the different sensor types are compared and discussed. Findings – Results indicate that the choice of binder materials is critical to the production of sensors capable of medium term deployment (e.g. several days) as the binders not only affect the tradeoff between hydration time and drift but also have a significant bearing on device sensitivity and stability. Sensor calibration is shown to remain an issue with long-term deployments (e.g. several weeks) but this can be ameliorated in the medium term with the use of novel device fabrication and packaging techniques. Originality/value – The reported results indicate that is possible through careful choice of materials and fabrication methods to achieve near stable thick film reference electrodes that are suitable for use in solid state chemical sensors in a variety of different application areas.

Thick-film screen printed silver–silver chloride (Ag/AgCl) reference electrodes have been fabricated and investigated as an alternative to liquid electrolyte Ag/AgCl reference electrodes. The performance of the electrodes was examined with variations of the potassium chloride (KCl) concentration in the final (top) layer of the electrode. Also, different types of binder (glass and polymer) were tested for the underlying Ag/AgCl layer. The addition of another layer on top of the KCl containing salt matrix layer has been found to provide a better stability in varying concentrations of KCl test solutions. The electrodes were found to give a satisfactory performance when tested for stability in different pH solutions.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to report thick film environmental and chemical sensor arrays designed for deployment in both subterranean and submerged aqueous applications. Design/methodology/approach – Various choices of materials for reference electrodes employed in these different applications have been evaluated and the responses of the different sensor types are compared and discussed. Findings – Results indicate that the choice of binder materials is critical to the production of sensors capable of medium term deployment (e.g. several days) as the binders not only affect the tradeoff between hydration time and drift but also have a significant bearing on device sensitivity and stability. Sensor calibration is shown to remain an issue with long-term deployments (e.g. several weeks) but this can be ameliorated in the medium term with the use of novel device fabrication and packaging techniques. Originality/value – The reported results indicate that is possible through careful choice of materials and fabrication methods to achieve near stable thick film reference electrodes that are suitable for use in solid state chemical sensors in a variety of different application areas.

This paper proposes a reasonable methodology for the design of pulse arrays applied in classification and quantification techniques based on the use of pulse voltammetric electronic tongues. As model problem we designed a procedure to predict levels of ferrocene, TCNQ and Ru(bipy)(3)(2+) using a voltammetric electronic tongue employing a set of noble electrodes; i.e. Au, Pt, Ir and Rh. Ferrocene, TCNQ and Ru(bipy)(3)(2+) have been selected as model compounds because these are molecules with well-defined redox processes. The electrodes were housed inside a stainless steel cylinder which was used as the body of the electronic tongue system. A SCE was used as reference electrode. An electrochemical study of the response of ferrocene TCNQ and Ru(bipy)(3)(2+) was carried out as a first step with the aim of characterise the redox processes in these compounds. Different samples containing ferrocene,TCNQ and Ru(bipy)(3)(2+) were prepared following an experimental design in which a system of three compounds/three levels was established. Multivariate analysis based on Partial Least Square (PLS) techniques was applied for data management and prediction models building. Several set of pulses were tested and a general procedure to their design for their use in voltammetric electronic tongues is discussed and proposed. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

This paper proposes a reasonable methodology for the design of pulse arrays applied in classification and quantification techniques based on the use of pulse voltammetric electronic tongues. As model problem we designed a procedure to predict levels of ferrocene, TCNQ and Ru(bipy)(3)(2+) using a voltammetric electronic tongue employing a set of noble electrodes; i.e. Au, Pt, Ir and Rh. Ferrocene, TCNQ and Ru(bipy)(3)(2+) have been selected as model compounds because these are molecules with well-defined redox processes. The electrodes were housed inside a stainless steel cylinder which was used as the body of the electronic tongue system. A SCE was used as reference electrode. An electrochemical study of the response of ferrocene TCNQ and Ru(bipy)(3)(2+) was carried out as a first step with the aim of characterise the redox processes in these compounds. Different samples containing ferrocene,TCNQ and Ru(bipy)(3)(2+) were prepared following an experimental design in which a system of three compounds/three levels was established. Multivariate analysis based on Partial Least Square (PLS) techniques was applied for data management and prediction models building. Several set of pulses were tested and a general procedure to their design for their use in voltammetric electronic tongues is discussed and proposed. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

We report herein the use of a combined system for the analysis of the spoilage of wine when in contact with air. The system consists of a potentiometric electronic tongue and a humid electronic nose. The potentiometric electronic tongue was built with thick-film serigraphic techniques using commercially available resistances and conductors for hybrid electronic circuits; i.e. Ag, Au, Cu, Ru, AgCl, and C. The humid electronic nose was designed in order to detect vapours that emanate from the wine and are apprehended by a moist environment. The humid nose was constructed using a piece of thin cloth sewn, damped with distilled water, forming five hollows of the right size to introduce the electrodes. In this particular case four electrodes were used for the humid electronic nose: a glass electrode, aluminium (Al), graphite and platinum (Pt) wires and an Ag-AgCl reference electrode. The humid electronic nose together with the potentiometric electronic tongue were used for the evaluation of the evolution in the course of time of wine samples. Additionally to the analysis performed by the tongue and nose, the spoilage of the wines was followed via a simple determination of the titratable (total) acidity. © 2011 Elsevier B.V.

We report herein the use of a combined system for the analysis of the spoilage of wine when in contact with air. The system consists of a potentiometric electronic tongue and a humid electronic nose. The potentiometric electronic tongue was built with thick-film serigraphic techniques using commercially available resistances and conductors for hybrid electronic circuits; i.e. Ag, Au, Cu, Ru, AgCl, and C. The humid electronic nose was designed in order to detect vapours that emanate from the wine and are apprehended by a moist environment. The humid nose was constructed using a piece of thin cloth sewn, damped with distilled water, forming five hollows of the right size to introduce the electrodes. In this particular case four electrodes were used for the humid electronic nose: a glass electrode, aluminium (Al), graphite and platinum (Pt) wires and an Ag-AgCl reference electrode. The humid electronic nose together with the potentiometric electronic tongue were used for the evaluation of the evolution in the course of time of wine samples. Additionally to the analysis performed by the tongue and nose, the spoilage of the wines was followed via a simple determination of the titratable (total) acidity. © 2011 Elsevier B.V.