Screen-Printing Of Biosensors For Sweat Analysis In Sports Wearables (Sensors Europe 2017)

Increased ammonium levels in sweat correlate to physical overstrain of muscles and corresponding metabolic processes. The fabrication and analysis of screen-printed, ion-selective sensors, and also the integration with tailored electronics are presented. The printed sensors are developed to fit wearable devices and deliver specificity for ammonium levels in sweat.

Dr. rer. nat. Susanne Oertel, Research Scientist, received her PhD in chemistry (Inorganic Materials) from University of Erlangen-Nuremberg in 2004. Since 2008 she is with Fraunhofer IISB in the working group on thin film systems with topics like printed electronics, thin-film sensors, as well as device and application development. Since 2010 she is active in the field of inorganic precursors for solution-processed metal oxide TFTs and since 2015 in the field of printed flexible sensors. Main topic in her work is the development and fabrication of ion-selective sensors and their integration with corresponding electronics for hybrid electronic devices, e.g. for wearables. The relevant research was supported by the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs and Media, Energy and Technology as a part of the Bavarian project "Leistungszentrum Elektroniksysteme (LZE)".

Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Systems and Device Technology IISB conducts applied research in the business fields Semiconductor and Power Electronics. In a comprehensive approach, IISB adresses value chains starting from base material development until prototype application.

The Thin-Film Systems group is active in liquid precursors for metal oxides and silicon as well as the deposition of corresponding thin-films from vacuum and novel solution-based techniques. Thin-film and device integration is backed by qualified cleanroom facilities and a dedicated printed electronics laboratory. Smart sensing and large-area electronic solutions for consumer, automotive, agricultural and medical applications are developed based on thin-film and hybrid electronics.