Functional metal-based 3D-printed electronics engineering: Tunability and bio-recognition. (August 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Muñoz, Jose; Redondo, Edurne; Pumera, Martin
• Is Part Of: Applied materials today. Volume 28(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-08
• Subjects: Cu/PLA electrodes -- Galvanic replacement -- Chiral biosensors -- Supramolecular chemistry -- Noble metals; Materials science -- Periodicals; Materials -- Research -- Periodicals; 620.1105
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apmt.2022.101519
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2352-9407

Abstract

Highlights: 3D printed Cu electrode was decorated with Au and Ag. Chiral discrimination of amino acids was performed. Supramolecular determination of uranyl ions was carried out. Abstract: 3D-printing technology has brought light to the large-scale and sustainable production of a wide range of low-cost electronic devices with custom forms on-demand. Despite the current availability of mainstream carbon-based nanocomposite filaments, 3D-printing of noble metals is nowadays a challenge. Herein, a one-step functionalization approach has been devised for the straightforward and cost-effective manufacturing of functional metal-based 3D-printed electronics by galvanically replacing Cu-based 3D-printed (3D-Cu) electrodes with nobler metal counterparts, viz. Ag and Au. As a first demonstration of applicability, two appealing bio-electroanalytical approaches, such as the chiral discrimination of amino acids and the supramolecular determination of uranium have been considered —by taking advantage of the capability of noble metals to physically/chemically accommodate several molecular components—, reaching enhanced performances when compared with the pristine 3D-Cu counterpart. Consequently, this alchemy-inspired approach, which combines (i) 3D-Cu electrodes as sacrificial platforms with (ii) noble metals via a galvanic exchange reaction, provides a robust pathway to harbor molecular components in order to exploit metal-based 3D-printed electronics in real tasks. Graphical abstract: Image, graphical abstract