This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:
Sweat can serve as a real-time source of information about the body's current state. For example, wearable sensors designed to measure sodium and potassium in sweat could provide biochemical information relevant to physiological monitoring.
Such devices could potentially contribute to future health management applications for people working or exercising in hot environments by enabling measurements without interrupting their activities.
However, turning this idea into a fully functional device is not simple. Many wearable ion sensors are potentiometric, meaning they measure a voltage that changes with the concentration of a specific ion.
To provide a meaningful reading, these ion-selective electrodes need a stable measurement potential from a reference electrode. Unfortunately, conventional printed reference electrodes can take considerable time to stabilize before measurements can begin, making them less suitable for continuous monitoring applications in dynamic contexts.
To tackle this problem, a research team led by associate professor Isao Shitanda from the Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology at Tokyo University of Science, Japan, developed a wristwatch-type sensor integrating a printed liquid-junction reference electrode that does not need lengthy preliminary adjustment.
Their study, published online in ACS Omega, was co-authored by second-year master's student Takuma Fujisawa from the same department.
The proposed design integrates a screen-printed liquid-junction reference electrode with sodium- and potassium-selective electrodes, a sample transport layer and digital electronics. The liquid junction contains silica gel, which facilitates water permeation into the electrolyte layer and enables rapid initial stabilization of the reference electrode.
Source link
