Skip to main content
Chemistry LibreTexts

Student Assignment

  1. Last updated
  2. Save as PDF
  • Page ID
    283192

    • \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \) \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)\(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)\(\newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)

    After reading the background on Electrochemical and Biochemical Sensors, you and your group now know the basics of an electrochemical sensor/biosensor. Your next job as a group is to become creative and design a sensor of your choice. Maybe something you see a need for? Or perhaps to improve an existing one?

    In this design process, there are a couple of criteria you will have to follow:

    1. The sensor has to have the main components present
      1. Analyte (sample) of interest
      2. Receptor
      3. Electrode and what materials would you use.
    2. Propose the Reaction that is happening at the electrode/ what is the chemistry?
    3. Why do we need this sensor? What is the real-life problem you are trying to solve with it?
    4. What would be the market for this type of sensor?
    5. A visual model of this sensor. This could be any of the following:
      1. A Physical model of the sensor (build it)
      2. Design and 3D print the sensor
      3. A realistic 3D drawing/painting/sketch of the sensor

    You might also think about catalysts, membranes, receptors to make it specific,  etc.

    You can divide your group up to make it most efficient.

    As an example have a few people on each part of the assignment:

    Puzzle.png

    What, Why, How: 1: What is a sensor? 2: Why would you need this sensor? 3: What is the biological problem you are trying to solve/analyze? Chemistry: 1: What is the reaction happening at the anode and the cathode? 2: What is being oxidized and what is being reduced in the reaction? 3: Is this reaction spontaneous or not? If not, what needs to be done to make it work? Parts: 1: What electrode materials would you choose and why? 1. Working (anode or cathode). 2. Counter/auxiliary (anode or cathode). 3. Reference. 2: What would be your electrolyte solution or do you need one? 3: Do you need a biological entity or coatings? What would those be? 4: How can you make your sensor more sensitive? (How can you make it detect lower concentrations of your species of interest?) Market: 1: Who can you market this sensor to and how big is your market? 2: How much would you sell your sensor for? Cost analysis? 3: Is your sensor reusable or onetime use? If reusable, how would you calibrate it before each use? 4: How would you package this sensor?

    On presentation day in class, you/groups will present the sensor in a 3 minute pitch. Each group/person will be evaluated by the class on content, chemistry, applications, market evaluation, and overall design.  Instructor and peer-evaluations will be used in assigning overall points for the project.

    This page titled Student Assignment is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Asmira Alagic & Tara Tabibi via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform; a detailed edit history is available upon request.