Date of Award

2023

Degree Type

Open Access Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Chemistry

First Advisor

Judith L. Jenkins

Abstract

Many areas around the world are known and predicted to suffer from arsenic-contaminated drinking water resulting in elevated medical issues. Current arsenic detection techniques require that a sample be taken at the site, carried to the lab, and then tested by a skilled technician, which is not practical for remote, hard to reach places. In collaboration with researchers at the University of Louisville and the University of Kentucky, we are designing an electrochemical cell for a calibration-free detection technique that can be performed remotely, eliminating the need for on-site technicians, and helping to prevent chronic arsenic poisoning. A validated and patented device was developed at the University of Louisville as a proof of concept, but the cost, electrode fabrication, and complex assembly requirements limit commercial viability and motivate this work. We are targeting electrodes that can be inkjet printed directly onto a 3D-printed polymer electrochemical cell, simplifying the manufacturing processes and substantially decreasing the costs of the device. We began by investigating the impact of a membrane separating the counter electrode from the working electrode. Then the stability and electrochemical characteristics of inkjet printed gold electrodes on plastic was evaluated through cyclic voltammetry of ferricyanide and scanning electron microscopy.

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