Shane Gumm | Brewer Science: How Can Print-on-Kapton Sensors Detect PPT-Level PFAS Contaminants in Five Minutes?
16:58 - 18:35
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How Can Print-on-Kapton Sensors Detect PPT-Level PFAS Contaminants in Five Minutes?
Detecting per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) historically required expensive, lab-bound liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) setups due to the ultra-low parts-per-trillion (PPT) regulatory limits. Transitioning this capability to a portable format requires highly selective surface chemistry paired with sensitive electrochemical transduction.
The architecture of this portable sensor relies on a layered stack printed on either Kapton or alumina. It features screen-printed electrodes, a reference material, and a protective encapsulation layer. The critical component is a bio-inspired sensing layer deposited directly on the working electrode that selectively binds to PFOA and PFOS molecules.
This electrochemical detection method yields results in under five minutes without requiring complex sample preparation or hazardous reagents. While not meant to replace compliance-grade laboratory testing, this low-cost printed platform offers a highly scalable screening tool for decentralized environmental monitoring.
In this short video, you can learn:
* The structural material stack of a printed electrochemical PFAS sensor on flexible substrates.
* How bio-inspired sensing layers enable target selectivity for PFOA and PFOS.
* The mechanism of rapid electrochemical transduction for field-deployable environmental screening.
π **Clip Abstract** This clip breaks down the design and material layer stack of a portable, printed PFAS sensor. It details how electrochemical detection and bio-inspired materials enable rapid parts-per-trillion screening.
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#PrintOnKapton, #PFASSensors, #ElectrochemicalTransduction, #BioInspiredSensing, #PrintedElectronics, #EnvironmentalMonitoring
This is a highlight of the presentation:
Future of Electronics RESHAPED USA 2026
Computer History Museum, Mountain View, California, USA
Organised By:
TechBlick
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06:13 - 07:51
Can Screen Printing Really Achieve Reliable Sub-50-Micron Conductive Traces?
Can Screen Printing Really Achieve Reliable Sub-50-Micron Conductive Traces?
Fine-line screen printing is traditionally limited by paste rheology, screen emulsion, and mesh geometry. By optimizing the interaction between customized functional inks and precision hardware, engineers can push past conventional resolution barriers. This process relies on tight control of the Emulsion Over Mesh (EOM) thickness and the RZ surface roughness value of the printed deposit.
Brewer Science utilizes rapid screen imaging and direct-write lasers to fine-tune these physical parameters in-house. This rapid-iteration capability enables consistent fabrication of sub-100-micron silver traces, down to 50 microns and experimental 25-micron features. Matching the emulsion exposure precisely to the mesh geometry ensures clean release of the highly conductive silver pastes.
This level of structural resolution is vital for high-density sensor arrays where space is constrained and trace resistance must be minimized. Developing these micro-fine conductive pathways on flexible polymer substrates like polyimide opens new avenues for wearable electronics, medical diagnostics, and advanced environmental monitoring nodes.
In this short video, you can learn:
* The role of Emulsion Over Mesh (EOM) and RZ values in high-resolution screen printing.
* How direct-write laser imagers facilitate rapid mask optimization for micro-fine silver traces.
* The physical limit of printing conductive silver pathways down to 25 microns on flexible substrates.
π **Clip Abstract** This clip covers the technical strategies used to print sub-100-micron silver traces on flexible substrates. It details how adjusting emulsion parameters and mesh characteristics can reliably achieve features down to 50 microns.
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#EmulsionOverMesh, #FineLineScreenPrinting, #ConductiveSilverPaste, #DirectWriteLaserImaging, #PrintedElectronics, #FlexibleSubstrates
08:08 - 09:33
How Do You Prevent Trace Corrosion in Continuous Liquid-Phase Sensors?
How Do You Prevent Trace Corrosion in Continuous Liquid-Phase Sensors?
Designing electrochemical sensors for direct immersion in aqueous environments presents a major reliability challenge. Traditional planar designs expose the conductive traces to water, leading to parasitic currents, trace corrosion, and signal degradation. Protecting these interconnection lines is essential for long-term sensor stability and accuracy.
A highly elegant design solution involves transferring the conductive interconnects to the opposite side of the substrate. By routing the electrical signals through vias to back-side printed traces, the active sensor electrodes remain exposed to the analyte while the vulnerable wiring remains completely dry.
This multi-layer approach is demonstrated in an integrated water quality monitoring array featuring nitrate, lead, pH, and conductivity sensors on a single Kapton sheet. The combination of double-sided printed electronics and clean encapsulation creates highly robust sensor arrays suited for modular, in-line industrial water monitoring.
In this short video, you can learn:
* The reliability risks associated with exposing conductive traces to liquid analytes.
* How back-side trace routing through vias isolates connections from water contact.
* The architecture of multi-parametric sensor arrays integrating pH, nitrate, and heavy metal detection.
π **Clip Abstract** This clip highlights the physical architecture of a multi-parametric water-sensing array printed on Kapton. It explains how routing electrical traces to the backside of the substrate prevents water interference and boosts sensor lifetime.
π Link in comments π
#DoubleSidedPrintedElectronics, #ThroughSubstrateVias, #ElectrochemicalSensorArrays, #KaptonElectronics, #FlexibleElectronics, #WaterQualityMonitoring