Background.
Inexpensive and reliable chemical sensors are the critical to understanding our environment and human health. Sensors are required in diverse areas such as water quality monitoring, wastewater treatment, and disease diagnostics. Water quality monitoring – particularly monitoring trace amounts of toxic heavy metals such as Pb – is a critical problem due to the widespread use of lead pipes in the United States. Numerous examples of contaminated water has impacted populations in Flint, MI and Newark, NJ, and is especially problematic in schools where the risk of lead-poisoning is significantly higher. |
Our approach.
We use fused deposition modeling 3D-printing, which is an inexpensive layer-by-layer fabrication technique, to make hydrodynamic electrochemical devices for making trace measurements. Our goal is to develop simple and adaptable tools that can be fabricated by by end-uers in situ to monitor their health and environment. We hope to develop a range of devices that will be shared free-of-charge with the broader community so that they can understand their environment better. We use fused deposition modeling 3D-printing, which is an inexpensive layer-by-layer fabrication technique, to make hydrodynamic electrochemical devices for making trace measurements. We like 3D-printing because we can make device that have exceptionally high analytical performance without the complexity or cost of traditional lab-based tools (e.g., ICP-MS). |
So far, we have shown that we can fabricate hydrodynamic electrochemical cells with 3D-printed sensors in a single step using multi-material 3D printing. We can use these sensors to measure trace metals (Pb, Cd, and Hg) using anodic stripping voltammetry at levels below the EPA limits. We have also shown that the surfaces of these 3D-printed sensors are easy to modify and have demonstrated voltammetric pH sensing in complex biofluids such as undiluted serum and urine. We are always looking for new applications and collaborations!
Publications.
- Towards Single-step Production of Functional Electrochemical Devices using 3D Printing: Progress, Challenges, and Opportunities. O'Neil, G.D. Current Opinion in Electrochemistry 2020, 20, 60-65.
- Single-step fabrication of electrochemical flow cells utilizing multi-material 3D printing. O'Neil, G.D.; Halloran, K.*; Janusz, J.N.*; Rodríguez, A.*; Terrero Rodríguez, I.M. Electrochem. Commun. 2019, 99, 56-60.
- Voltammetric pH measurements in unadulterated foodstuffs, urine, and serum with 3D-printed graphene/poly(lactic acid) electrodes. Rabboh, F.M.*; O'Neil, G.D. Anal. Chem. 2020, 92, 14999–15006.
- Trace analysis of heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Hg) using 3D printable PLA-graphene composite electrodes. Walters, J.G.*; Ahmed, S.*; Terrero Rodríguez, I.M.; O'Neil, G.D. Electroanalysis 2020, 32, 859-866.