Ultralow-Cost and Selective Water-Based Colorimetric Ink for Indoor CO₂ Monitoring
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: This work introduces a novel water-based colorimetric ink for CO2monitoring, offering a significant advancement in indoor air quality assessment. The ink uses a highly specific and reversible reaction between CO2and an amine, enabling precise detection within a broad operational range of 150-1500 ppm, encompassing typical indoor CO2concentrations. Optimized rheological properties allow for seamless application on paper substrates, facilitating scalable production and widespread adoption. The resulting colorimetric labels exhibit exceptional resistance to common interfering gases, ensuring accurate and reliable CO2readings even in challenging indoor environments with fluctuating humidity and temperature and potential cross-contamination. Rigorous characterization of the sensor showcases outstanding performance in terms of specificity, repeatability, and reproducibility, validating its robustness and suitability for real-world applications. To further enhance accuracy, a calibration methodology incorporating a signal compensation algorithm is proposed, effectively mitigating humidity-induced effects. The sensor response can be effortlessly captured using readily available and cost-effective electronic components, paving the way for an accessible and versatile solution for real-time CO2monitoring in both residential and commercial settings. Moreover, the inherent versatility of this technology allows for integration with other colorimetric inks, opening doors to a multi-parametric sensing platform capable of monitoring a wider array of indoor air quality pollutants.
Source: IEEE Sensors Journal
Institutions: Universitat de Barcelona, Technische Universität Braunschweig
Language: English
Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Climate action
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $2,645
Award: G7925393706
OpenAlex ID: W4409494012