A Mass Sensor Utilizing Dissolvable Piezo-Ionic Pullulan Compound

A novel mass sensor utilizing the dissolvable properties of a polysaccharide. i.e., pullulan, is presented here. This innovative sensor is based on EMIM-BF4 ionic liquids, silver electrodes, and a pullulan structure to create a piezo-ionic three-layer system capable of converting applied deformations into electrical signals. The sensing mechanism utilizes the shift in frequency response of a vibrating cantilever configuration induced by the addition of masses. This approach enables mass sensing while maintaining a dissolvable and environmentally sustainable design. The sensor operates as a vibrating transducer, generating a voltage signal in response to deformation. The added mass directly impacts the frequency response, allowing the estimation of the measurand. Experimental characterization demonstrated a sensitivity of approximately -2.85 Hz/g. The resolution of the sensor is estimated to be approximately 0.036 g. These results underscore the system's potential as a cost-effective solution for mass sensing applications. Interestingly, this dissolvable pullulan-based mass sensor, presented for the first time in this paper, paves the road for next-generation sensing technologies. The biocompatibility of pullulan, combined with the adaptability of the entire compound, makes it particularly well-suited for applications in healthcare, environmental monitoring, and disposable IoT devices. By integrating green materials with innovative piezo-ionic principles, this design marks a significant advancement in the development of sustainable sensors.