GB2568428A - Process of production of interdigitated array of electrodes and derivatives by screen printing technique - Google Patents

Abstract

A process of fabrication of interdigitated array of electrodes (IDAE) based on screen and wax printing techniques is disclosed. This process has been optimized for the production of IDAE and insulation layers on porous and non-porous substrates. Also the fabrication of an IDAE, with an embedded electrochemical cell, using the production process is shown as an example. The example of an IDAE electrochemical cell consists of three fundamental parts: A chamber, an IDAE placed on top of the chamber, and a reference electrode placed at the back of the chamber. The chamber is fabricated by printing a hydrophobic barrier as the border of the electrochemical cell in order to define its geometry, as well as to confine electrochemical solution inside the cell. The wax barrier also plays the role of insulating layer which protects certain parts of the device such as connectors from entering into contact with the electrochemical solution or an electrolyte. Paper or other substitutes with similar characteristics can be used as substrate in the production of the IDAE electrochemical cell, since they serve as a support for the printed electrodes and simultaneously as electrochemical chamber. The system and methods disclosed herein are ready to be used in electrochemical measurement, since an embedded chamber with working, counter and reference electrodes, all in one self-contained device, is produced, thus avoiding the need of external electrodes and/or containers. The disclosed method of producing IDAE can generally be applied to various electronic devices of which include interdigitated patterns; such as interdigitated antennas, interdigitated capacitors, and capacitively-loaded antennas; and in the production of other devices including interdigitated patterns, such as micro batteries and micro supercapacitors to name a few.