Highly Sensitive Membrane-Based Pressure Sensors (MePS) for Real-Time Monitoring of Catalytic Reactions
2018
Zizzari, Alessandra | Bianco, Monica | del Mercato, Loretta L. | Sorarù, Antonio | Carraro, Mauro | Pellegrino, Paolo | Perrone, Elisabetta | Monteduro, Anna G. | Bonchio, Marcella | Rinaldi, Rosaria | Viola, Ilenia | Arima, Valentina
Functional, flexible, and integrated lab-on-chips, based on elastic membranes, are capable of fine response to external stimuli, so to pave the way for many applications as multiplexed sensors for a wide range of chemical, physical and biomedical processes. Here, we report on the use of elastic thin membranes (TMs), integrated with a reaction chamber, to fabricate a membrane-based pressure sensor (MePS) for reaction monitoring. In particular, the TM becomes the key-element in the design of a highly sensitive MePS capable to monitor gaseous species production in dynamic and temporally fast processes with high resolution and reproducibility. Indeed, we demonstrate the use of a functional MePS integrating a 2 μm thick polydimethylsiloxane TM by monitoring the dioxygen evolution resulting from catalytic hydrogen peroxide dismutation. The operation of the membrane, explained using a diffusion-dominated model, is demonstrated on two similar catalytic systems with catalase-like activity, assembled into polyelectrolyte multilayers capsules. The MePS, tested in a range between 2 and 50 Pa, allows detecting a dioxygen variation of the μmol L–¹ s–¹ order. Due to their structural features, flexibility of integration, and biocompatibility, the MePSs are amenable of future development within advanced lab-on-chips.
显示更多 [+] 显示较少 [-]