Micromachined pH Sensor Using Open Well Structures

개방형 우물 구조를 이용한 마이크로머신형 pH 센서

  • Kim, Heung-Rak (Research Institute of Industrial Science & Technololgy, Process Automation Research Center, Sensor & Instrumentation Team) ;
  • Kim, Young-Deog (Research Institute of Industrial Science & Technololgy, Process Automation Research Center, Sensor & Instrumentation Team) ;
  • Jeong, Woo-Cheol (Research Institute of Industrial Science & Technololgy, Process Automation Research Center, Sensor & Instrumentation Team) ;
  • Kim, Kwang-Il (Research Institute of Industrial Science & Technololgy, Process Automation Research Center, Sensor & Instrumentation Team) ;
  • Kim, Dong-Su (Research Institute of Industrial Science & Technololgy, Process Automation Research Center, Sensor & Instrumentation Team)
  • 김흥락 (포항산업과학연구원 설비자동화연구센터 센서계측연구팀) ;
  • 김영덕 (포항산업과학연구원 설비자동화연구센터 센서계측연구팀) ;
  • 정우철 (포항산업과학연구원 설비자동화연구센터 센서계측연구팀) ;
  • 김광일 (포항산업과학연구원 설비자동화연구센터 센서계측연구팀) ;
  • 김동수 (포항산업과학연구원 설비자동화연구센터 센서계측연구팀)
  • Published : 2002.08.30

Abstract

A structure of a glass electrode-type pH sensor for measuring any concentration of $H^+$ in an aqueous solution was embodied with bulk micromachining technology. Two open well structures were formed, and a reference electrode was secured by the Ag/AgCl thin film in the sloped side of the etched structure. A sensitive membrane of an indicator electrode for generating a potential by an exchange reaction to $H^+$ was made with a glass containing Na 20% or more finely so that its thickness might be $100{\mu}m$ or so, and then it was bonded to one pyramidal structure. A liquid junction for a current path was formed by filling an agar in the anisotropically etched part of the Si wafer, which had a size of $50{\mu}m{\times}50{\mu}m$, and then bonded it to the other. After complete fabrication of each part, it was filled with a 2M KCl reference solution and encapsulated the sensor structure with a cold expoxy. The potential value of fabricated pH sensor was about 90mV/pH in the standard pH solutions.

수용액에 포함된 수소이온$(H^+)$의 농도를 측정하는 유리 전극형 수소이용 농도(pH) 센서의 기본 구조를 bulk micromachining 기술로 구현하여 소형의 pH 센서를 제작하였다. 박막 증착이 가능한 경사 식각으로 개방된 2개의 기본 구조물을 형성하고, 일정 전위를 유지하기 위한 기준전극은 식각된 구조물 경사면에 박막형 Ag/AgCl으로 확보하였다. $H^+$과 교환 반응으로 전위를 발생시키는 감응부는 Na이 20%이상 포함된 glass로 $100{\mu}m$ 내외로 미세 연마하여 기본 구조물에 접합하여 완성하였다. 또한 외부 용액과 기준 용액의 혼합을 방지하면서 전류 도통 역할을 하는 액간 접촉부는 $50{\mu}m{\times}50{\mu}m$ 크기의 Si 이방성 식각 부분에 한천을 삽입하고 난 다음 기존의 구조물에 접합하여 형성하였다. 각 구조물을 완성한 다음 2M 농도의 KCI 기준 용액을 구조물에 채우고, 상용 에폭시로 센서 구조물을 밀봉하여 센서를 완성하였다. 제작된 pH 센서들은 표준 pH 용액에 대하여 약 90mV/pH의 전위값이 측정되었다.

Keywords

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