Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The escalating global plastic production (~ 390 million tons in 2022) and subsequent environmental release of microplastics necessitate urgent advancements in real-time detection technologies. While optical methods (Raman spectroscopy, FTIR) dominate current microplastic analysis, their reliance on bulky instrumentation limits field applications. This study presents a portable surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensor system for real-time microplastic detection in beverages. A biocompatible aluminum interdigital transducer (IDT) array (40 pairs, 30 μm gap) was fabricated on piezoelectric substrates (InGaN and PMN-PT), with SU-8 passivation selectively exposing sensing regions to minimize liquid-phase interference. Material characterization confirmed substrate crystallinity and composition, revealing InGaN’s superior sensitivity, estimated to be ~ 0.168 MHz/(mg/mL) than the PMN-PT-based device. The integrated system employs an InGaN-based oscillator circuit resonating at 39.06 MHz, enabling standalone operation without external signal generators. A threshold-driven LED interface (red/green for ≥ / < 0.25 mg) provides intuitive readouts, while universal printed circuit board (PCB) integration ensures portability. This work demonstrates a scalable platform for on-site microplastic monitoring, addressing critical gaps in consumer safety and environmental health.
Source: Micro and Nano Systems Letters
Authors: Jeong Hyeon Kim, Min Jae Hwang, Ha Yoon Jo, So Yeon Choi, Seong Hyeon Park, Haneol Lee
Institution: Jeonbuk National University
Language: English
Subfield: Biomedical Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,090
Funders: National Research Foundation, Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning, Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, National Research Foundation of Korea, Ministry of Science and ICT, South Korea, Jeonbuk National University, Commercializations Promotion Agency for R and D Outcomes
OpenAlex ID: W4414390600