Measuring sensor sensitivity

In summary, the conversation revolves around the development of a new chemical sensor and testing its sensitivity to various chemicals. The method discussed is using chronoamperometry scan to measure the current increase after injecting a controlled amount of chemical every 60 seconds. However, the experiment did not yield meaningful data and only showed noise. The setup used includes a Gamry FAS1 Potentiostat, Pt wire Aux Electrode, Orion Single Junction Ag/AgCl Reference electrode, and Pt disc electrode. The chemical being tested is K3Fe(CN)6 in 0.1M KCl, with concentrations ranging from 1uM to 10mM. The potential used is suggested to be set at one of the peaks in the
  • #1
engineman
1
0
I am developing a new chemical sensor. I want to test the sensitivity of the sensor to various chemicals such as K3Fe(CN)6 and Ascorbic Acid. My understanding was that you could use a chronoamperometry scan to do this measurement by injecting a controlled amount of chemical every 60 seconds and recording the increase in steady state current observed after 15-20 seconds. This gives a stair step looking graph when the data is plotted. However, when I tried the experiment tonight, I couldn't get any meaningful data. All I could see in the data was noise. Here is my setup:

Gamry FAS1 Potentiostat
Pt wire Aux Electrode
Orion Single Junction Ag/AgCl Reference electrode
Pt disc electrode

I was trying to measure K3Fe(CN)6 in 0.1M KCl. The K3Fe(CN)6 concentrations increased from 1uM to 10mM logarithmically. I can get a good result with a CV scan so I know that the system is connected properly and working well.

Does anyone have experience with performing an experiment like this? Is my concentration of KCl too high. Does anyone have any other suggestions.

Thanks,
engineman
 
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  • #2
What did you have your potential set to? Hopefully it was set to a potential of one of the peaks on your CV...
 
  • #3


I would suggest that the issue you are experiencing with your experimental setup could be due to a number of factors. First, it is possible that your KCl concentration is too high and is interfering with the sensitivity of your sensor. I would recommend trying the experiment with a lower concentration of KCl, perhaps 0.01M, and see if that improves the results.

Additionally, it is important to ensure that all of your equipment is calibrated and functioning properly. Have you checked the calibration of your potentiostat and electrodes? It is possible that there may be an issue with one of these components that is causing the noise in your data.

Another suggestion would be to try varying the injection time interval. Instead of injecting the chemical every 60 seconds, try increasing or decreasing the interval to see if that affects the results.

Lastly, it may be helpful to consult with other researchers or experts in the field who have experience with similar experiments. They may be able to offer insights or suggestions based on their own experiences. Overall, troubleshooting and fine-tuning experimental setups is a common and important part of the scientific process, so don't be discouraged and keep experimenting until you find the best method for measuring the sensitivity of your chemical sensor.
 

1. What is sensor sensitivity?

Sensor sensitivity refers to the ability of a sensor to detect and respond to small changes in the environment or the quantity being measured. It is a measure of how well a sensor can convert a physical stimulus into an electrical signal.

2. How is sensor sensitivity measured?

Sensor sensitivity is typically measured by exposing the sensor to a known stimulus and recording the resulting electrical signal. The sensitivity is then calculated by dividing the change in signal by the corresponding change in the stimulus.

3. What factors can affect sensor sensitivity?

There are several factors that can affect sensor sensitivity, including the type and quality of the sensor, environmental conditions (such as temperature or humidity), and the type of stimulus being measured. It is important to carefully consider these factors when selecting and using a sensor to ensure accurate and reliable measurements.

4. How can sensor sensitivity be improved?

Sensor sensitivity can be improved by using higher quality sensors, optimizing the design and placement of the sensor, and calibrating the sensor regularly. It is also important to minimize external factors that may interfere with the sensor's performance.

5. Why is sensor sensitivity important?

Sensor sensitivity is important because it directly affects the accuracy and precision of measurements. A more sensitive sensor can detect smaller changes in the environment or stimulus being measured, leading to more accurate and reliable data. This is especially crucial in scientific research and industrial applications where precise measurements are necessary.

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