Chemistry: electrical and wave energy – Apparatus – Electrolytic
Patent
1991-08-22
1992-10-20
Niebling, John
Chemistry: electrical and wave energy
Apparatus
Electrolytic
204418, G01N 2730
Patent
active
051567288
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to an ion sensor and, more particularly, to an ion sensor that uses a board on which an ion-sensitive portion is formed.
BACKGROUND ART
The inventors have filed applications for ion sensors employing a carbon electrode (in which basal plane pyrolytic graphite carbon, namely BPG carbon, glassy carbon or the like is used as the electrically conductive carbon material) as a substrate, wherein the board is coated with a redox layer which may in turn be coated with an ion-selective layer.
With ion sensors so configured, however, there is a limitation upon the shape of the board and difficulties are encountered particularly in miniaturization and in utilizing the above-described art in circuit techniques involving semiconductors and the like.
In the future, sensor techniques employing ion sensors will not be limited to systems in which mere measurements are taken by using a sensor. Since there will be a need to develop software in the electronic, electrical, biological and fermentation fields and in the field of medicine (clinical medicine, diagnosis, examination, communication, etc.), it will be required to develop sensor technology in combination with sophisticated board technology.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an ion sensor using a board on which an ion-sensitive portion is formed and which is utilizable in circuit board technology as well.
As means for solving this problem, the ion sensor of the present invention is equipped with a board on which an ion-sensitive portion is formed, a carbon layer which includes carbon coating the ion-sensitive portion, and a redox layer coating the carbon layer and exhibiting a redox function.
In this arrangement, an electric potential which corresponds to an ion concentration is produced in the ion-sensitive portion formed on the board.
In accordance with the present invention, there can be provided an ion sensor using a board on which an ion-sensitive portion is formed and which is utilizable in circuit board technology as well.
More specifically, in accordance with the present invention,
(1) ultrafine wiring can be coated with electrically conductive carbon in a simple manner, and it is possible to form the carbon board constructed of insulated wiring;
(2) the carbon board can be coated with a pin hole-free redox responsive membrane by an electrooxidative reaction; and
(3) the ion sensor is of a composite membrane-type coated with an ion-selective membrane.
Since a printed circuit board, namely a screen-printed board or a semiconductor circuit board, can readily be coated with the abovementioned membranes, this technique can be utilized in fields that apply this sensor technology, e.g., in the electronic, electrical, biological and fermentation fields and in the field of medicine (clinical medicine, diagnosis, examination, communication, etc.).
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a prototypal view of a printed board used in a first embodiment;
FIG. 2(a) shows an electrically conductive carbon electrode of the first embodiment;
FIG. 2(b) shows a film board electrode of the first embodiment;
FIG. 3 is a view showing a circuit for measuring emf response in the first embodiment;
FIG. 4 is a view showing experimental results in the first embodiment; and
FIG. 5 is a structural view showing a handy ion sensor of a second embodiment.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail in accordance with the accompanying drawings.
EXAMPLE 1
(1) As shown in FIG. 1, a board 1 was fabricated by applying, by means of a brush, a single layer (membrane thickness: about 0.5 mm) of a carbon paste (viscosity: 150-300p.sub.s ; JEF-010, manufactured by Nihon Achison K. K.) to a portion A of a board (having a wire width of 0.1 mm at fine portions, manufactured by Mitsui Kinzoku Kogyo K. K.) obtained by printing copper wiring on a polyimide film, and sintering the board for 30 min at a sintering temperature of 150.degree. C. "JEF-010" (graphite)
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Oyama Noboru
Shimomura Takeshi
Suzuki Takanao
Yamaguchi Shuichiro
Niebling John
Phasge Arun S,.
Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha
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