Inkjet-Printed Wireless Chemiresistive Sensors—A Review

Abstract

Microelectronic devices have great potential to be integrated into the Internet of Things, bringing benefits to the environment, society, and economy. Especially, microscaled chemical sensors for environmental monitoring are of great interest since they can be manufactured by cost, time, and resource efficient inkjet printing technology. The aim of the present literature review is a reflection of state-of-the-art inkjet-printed chemiresistive sensors. It examines current material approaches used to realize printed chemiresistors, especially the challenges in the realisation of accurate electrode patterns as well as the deposition of various sensing materials by inkjet printing technology. The review will be completed by an overview of current research activities dealing with the integration of chemiresistive sensors into wireless applications. The result of this review confirms that during the last decades, the number of publications covering inkjet-printed chemical, especially chemiresistive, sensors and their introduction into the Internet of Things is growing. Furthermore, it reveals the need for further research regarding material science and printing technology compatibility to achieve reliable and reproducible chemiresistive sensors.