Ultraviolet and Infrared Irradiations Sensing of Gel-Orange Dye Composite-Based Flexible Electrochemical Cells

Abstract

The flexible and shockproof rubber-based Al/OD-Gel/Cu electrochemical cell was designed, fabricated, and investigated for the detection of IR and UV irradiations. For this purpose, the transparent gel–orange dye composite was deposited on the porous rubber substrate between aluminum and copper electrodes. It was observed that the gel–orange dye composite was mechanically like a gel: soft and flexible. Electrically, this composite (gel–orange dye) forms a flexible electrolyte. It was found that the impedance of the samples under the effect of infrared irradiation decreased by 2.02 to 2.19 times on changing frequency from 100 Hz to 200 kHz. Accordingly, under the effect of ultraviolet irradiation, the impedance of the samples decreased by 1.23 to 1.45 times on increasing frequency from 100 Hz to 200 kHz. Under the effect of infrared irradiation up to 4000 W/m2, the cell’s open-circuit voltage increased by 1.59 times. The cell’s open-circuit voltage also increased by 1.06 times under the effect of ultraviolet irradiation up to 200 uW/cm2. The mechanism of the absorption of the infrared and ultraviolet irradiations by the OD–Gel composite has been discussed in detail. The fabricated flexible rubber substrate-based Al/OD-Gel/Cu electrochemical cells can be used as a prototype for the development of gel electronics-based devices.