Fundamental research to implement the printed autonomous wireless sensor platform is studied in three aspects: fabrication method, material selection, and novel applications for autonomous sensing/communication. Additive fabrication processes, such as inkjet printing technology and electroless electroplating, are discussed and the additively created metal layers are characterized. Fundamentals for material characterization utilizing resonators are presented and electrical properties of flexible low-cost substrates like synthetic Teslin paper and Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) are characterized. Widely used flexible substrates for printing, such as Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP) and Kapton (polyimide), are summarized and tabulated as well. Novel antenna-based applications for efficient and autonomous operation of wireless sensor system, such as an antenna on Artificial Magnetic Conductor (AMC) for wearable applications, an active beacon oscillator for Wireless Power Transfer (WPT), and a multiband RF energy harvester, are designed and their performances are experimentally verified. The printed RFID-enabled sensor topologies with/without RFID chip are discussed as a new sensor platform for autonomous wireless operation. Fully inkjet-printed via topology for system miniaturization and integration is proposed for the first time. Challenges, circuit modeling and experimental data are presented. Future and remaining work to implement the novel low-cost autonomous wireless sensor platform are also discussed.

Depleting oil reserves and fluctuating oil prices have necessitated to increase the efficiency of oil production process. This thesis is focused on developing low-cost sensors, which can increase oil production efficiency through real-time monitoring of oil wells and help in safe transport of oil products from the wells to the refineries. Produced fluid from an oil well is a complex mixture of oil, water and gases, which needs to be quantified for various strategic and operational decisions. For many years, test separators have been used to separate oil, water and gases into three separate streams and then to analyse them individually. However, test separators are being replaced by multiphase flow meters (MPFM) which can analyse the complex mixture of oil, water and gas without separating it. However, existing MPFMs are either intrusive or require fluid mixing before the sensing stage. In contrast to existing techniques, first part of this thesis presents a microwave sensor, which can measure water fraction in oil in a non-intrusive way without requiring it to be mixed. Gas fraction sensing can also be performed using the same microwave sensor, which is an on-going work. The sensor operates on dielectric measurement principles and comprises a microstrip T-resonator that has been optimized for a 3D pipe surface. Certain locations on an oil field have limited available space, for which we have also presented a compact version of the microwave water-fraction sensor in this thesis. In this version, metallic housing of the sensor has been used to function as a ground plane for the coaxially located spiral resonator. This housing also protects the sensor from environmental effects. In addition to the efficient production of oil, its safe transport is also a concern for the industry. It is physically impossible to inspect a network of thousands of kilometres of pipelines manually. The existing leak detectors suffer from low sensitivity, high false alarms and dependence on environmental effects. In the last part of this thesis, we present a flexible ringresonator based leak detector, which can be clamped at vulnerable locations along the pipeline for early leak detection.

Esta dissertação descreve o desenvolvimento de uma metodologia de determinação de Cu(II), Pb(II), Cd(II) e Zn(II) em amostras ambientais por voltametria de redissolução anódica (ASV) automatizada com sistema de Análise por Injeção Sequencial (SIA). Sensores impressos com o eletrodo de trabalho de filme fino de mercúrio foram utilizados em uma cela de fluxo. As determinações foram feitas por adição de padrão, com o sistema SIA fazendo a diluição em linha da solução padrão de referência e formando na bobina coletora e auxiliar um segmento contendo as zonas de amostra, solução padrão e solução de diluição. A concentração do padrão preparada nesse segmento gerou um sinal de corrente indistinguível do sinal gerado por uma solução padrão de mesma concentração preparada em batelada em balão volumétrico. Os limites de quantificação e detecção foram da ordem de µg L-1, comparáveis à de técnicas de espectrometria atômica com detecção óptica, cujos custos instrumentais e de manutenção são significativamente maiores. Com o sistema proposto os limites de quantificação e detecção podem ser aumentados ou diminuídos pela simples alteração dos parâmetros como vazão e número de reversões de fluxo, bem como o tempo de deposição no potenciostato. Os limites de detecção e quantificação foram, respectivamente, de 1,3 e 4,3 µg L-1 para o Cu(II), 1,4 e 4,6 µg L-1 para o Pb(II), 0,6 e 1,8 µg L-1 para o Cd(II) e 4,2 e 14 µg L-1 para o Zn(II). Esses limites de detecção e quantificação foram obtidos quando o método funcionou com volume de amostra de 1000 µL, vazão de 10 µL s-1 (durante a etapa de deposição), e utilizando 3 reversões de fluxo (volume de reversão = 950 µL), totalizando um tempo de deposição de 315 segundos. O potenciostato, trabalhando sincronicamente com o sistema SIA operou com potencial de condicionamento de -0,1 V vs. pseudo referência de Ag (100 s), potencial de deposição de -1,0 V para Cu(II), Pb(II) e Cd(II) e de -1,3 V para Zn(II) (315 s), frequência de onda quadrada de 100 Hz, incremento de potencial de 6 mV e altura de pulso de 40 mV. Para determinação de Zn(II) foi necessário depositar Ga0 no eletrodo de trabalho e evitar a formação do intermetálico de Zn0 com Cu0. Estudos de interferentes não apontaram desvios significativos em interferentes aniônicos e catiônicos, mas apresentaram desvios significativos na presença de ácidos húmicos e ácidos fúlvicos. A exatidão do método foi avaliada por estudos de adição e recuperação em amostra de água que resultaram taxas de recuperação próximas de 100%. A exatidão também foi avaliada pelas porcentagens de recuperação das concentrações dos metais da amostra certificada de sedimento CRM-701 submetido ao processo de extração sequencial BCR®. As concentrações obtidas foram testadas pelo teste t de Student, mostrando que os desvios dos valores obtidos em relação aos valores certificados não sugerem a existência de diferenças estatísitcamente significativas. / This dissertation describes the development of a methodology for determination of Cu(II), Pb(II), Cd(II) and Zn(II) in environmental samples by anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) automated by Sequential Injection Analysis (SIA). Screen printed thin mercury film sensors were used as working electrode in a flow cell. The determinations were made by standard addition, with the SIA system performing the inline dilution of the reference standard solution and forming a segment inside the holding coil containing zones of sample, standard and dilution solutions. The concentration of the standard prepared in this segment generated a current signal undistinguishable from the signal generated by a standard solution of the same concentration prepared manually in a volumetric flask. The limits of quantification and detection were at the level of µg L-1, comparable to those of atomic spectrometry techniques with optic detection, whose instrumental and maintenance costs are significantly higher. With the proposed system the limits of quantification and detection can be increased or lowered by simple change of parameters such as flow rate and number of flow reversals, as well as the deposition time at the potenciostat. The limits of detection and quantification were, respectively, 1.3 and 4.3 µg L-1 for Cu(II), 1.4 and 4.6 µg L-1 for Pb(II), 0.6 and 1.8 µg L-1 for Cd(II) and 4.2 and 14 µg L-1 for Zn(II). These limits of detection and quantification were obtained for a sample volume of 1000 µL, flow rate of 10 µL s-1 (during the deposition step), and utilizing 3 flow reversals (volume of reversion = 950 µL) totalizing a deposition time of 315 seconds. The potentiostat worked synchronically with the SIA system performing a conditioning potential of -0,1 V vs pseudo reference of Ag (100 s), deposition potential of -1,0 V for Cu(II), Pb(II) and Cd(II) or -1,3 V for Zn(II) (315 s), square wave frequency of 100 Hz, potential step of 6 mV and pulse height of 40 mV. For determination of Zn(II), deposition of Ga0 on the working electrode was necessary to avoid the formation of intermetallic between Zn0 and Cu0. Studies of interference did not point significant deviation for anionic and ionic potentially interfering substances, but exhibited significant deviations in the presence of humic and fulvic acids. The accuracy of the method was assessed by spike and recovery experiments in a water sample that resulted recovery rates near of 100%. The accuracy was also assessed by percentages of recovery of concentrations of metals in the certified sediment sample CRM-701 undergoing the sequential extraction procedure of BCR®. The concentrations obtained were tested by test t of Student, showing that the deviations of the obtained values don´t suggest the occurrence of statistically significant differences

Esta dissertação descreve o desenvolvimento de uma metodologia de determinação de Cu(II), Pb(II), Cd(II) e Zn(II) em amostras ambientais por voltametria de redissolução anódica (ASV) automatizada com sistema de Análise por Injeção Sequencial (SIA). Sensores impressos com o eletrodo de trabalho de filme fino de mercúrio foram utilizados em uma cela de fluxo. As determinações foram feitas por adição de padrão, com o sistema SIA fazendo a diluição em linha da solução padrão de referência e formando na bobina coletora e auxiliar um segmento contendo as zonas de amostra, solução padrão e solução de diluição. A concentração do padrão preparada nesse segmento gerou um sinal de corrente indistinguível do sinal gerado por uma solução padrão de mesma concentração preparada em batelada em balão volumétrico. Os limites de quantificação e detecção foram da ordem de µg L-1, comparáveis à de técnicas de espectrometria atômica com detecção óptica, cujos custos instrumentais e de manutenção são significativamente maiores. Com o sistema proposto os limites de quantificação e detecção podem ser aumentados ou diminuídos pela simples alteração dos parâmetros como vazão e número de reversões de fluxo, bem como o tempo de deposição no potenciostato. Os limites de detecção e quantificação foram, respectivamente, de 1,3 e 4,3 µg L-1 para o Cu(II), 1,4 e 4,6 µg L-1 para o Pb(II), 0,6 e 1,8 µg L-1 para o Cd(II) e 4,2 e 14 µg L-1 para o Zn(II). Esses limites de detecção e quantificação foram obtidos quando o método funcionou com volume de amostra de 1000 µL, vazão de 10 µL s-1 (durante a etapa de deposição), e utilizando 3 reversões de fluxo (volume de reversão = 950 µL), totalizando um tempo de deposição de 315 segundos. O potenciostato, trabalhando sincronicamente com o sistema SIA operou com potencial de condicionamento de -0,1 V vs. pseudo referência de Ag (100 s), potencial de deposição de -1,0 V para Cu(II), Pb(II) e Cd(II) e de -1,3 V para Zn(II) (315 s), frequência de onda quadrada de 100 Hz, incremento de potencial de 6 mV e altura de pulso de 40 mV. Para determinação de Zn(II) foi necessário depositar Ga0 no eletrodo de trabalho e evitar a formação do intermetálico de Zn0 com Cu0. Estudos de interferentes não apontaram desvios significativos em interferentes aniônicos e catiônicos, mas apresentaram desvios significativos na presença de ácidos húmicos e ácidos fúlvicos. A exatidão do método foi avaliada por estudos de adição e recuperação em amostra de água que resultaram taxas de recuperação próximas de 100%. A exatidão também foi avaliada pelas porcentagens de recuperação das concentrações dos metais da amostra certificada de sedimento CRM-701 submetido ao processo de extração sequencial BCR®. As concentrações obtidas foram testadas pelo teste t de Student, mostrando que os desvios dos valores obtidos em relação aos valores certificados não sugerem a existência de diferenças estatísitcamente significativas. / This dissertation describes the development of a methodology for determination of Cu(II), Pb(II), Cd(II) and Zn(II) in environmental samples by anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) automated by Sequential Injection Analysis (SIA). Screen printed thin mercury film sensors were used as working electrode in a flow cell. The determinations were made by standard addition, with the SIA system performing the inline dilution of the reference standard solution and forming a segment inside the holding coil containing zones of sample, standard and dilution solutions. The concentration of the standard prepared in this segment generated a current signal undistinguishable from the signal generated by a standard solution of the same concentration prepared manually in a volumetric flask. The limits of quantification and detection were at the level of µg L-1, comparable to those of atomic spectrometry techniques with optic detection, whose instrumental and maintenance costs are significantly higher. With the proposed system the limits of quantification and detection can be increased or lowered by simple change of parameters such as flow rate and number of flow reversals, as well as the deposition time at the potenciostat. The limits of detection and quantification were, respectively, 1.3 and 4.3 µg L-1 for Cu(II), 1.4 and 4.6 µg L-1 for Pb(II), 0.6 and 1.8 µg L-1 for Cd(II) and 4.2 and 14 µg L-1 for Zn(II). These limits of detection and quantification were obtained for a sample volume of 1000 µL, flow rate of 10 µL s-1 (during the deposition step), and utilizing 3 flow reversals (volume of reversion = 950 µL) totalizing a deposition time of 315 seconds. The potentiostat worked synchronically with the SIA system performing a conditioning potential of -0,1 V vs pseudo reference of Ag (100 s), deposition potential of -1,0 V for Cu(II), Pb(II) and Cd(II) or -1,3 V for Zn(II) (315 s), square wave frequency of 100 Hz, potential step of 6 mV and pulse height of 40 mV. For determination of Zn(II), deposition of Ga0 on the working electrode was necessary to avoid the formation of intermetallic between Zn0 and Cu0. Studies of interference did not point significant deviation for anionic and ionic potentially interfering substances, but exhibited significant deviations in the presence of humic and fulvic acids. The accuracy of the method was assessed by spike and recovery experiments in a water sample that resulted recovery rates near of 100%. The accuracy was also assessed by percentages of recovery of concentrations of metals in the certified sediment sample CRM-701 undergoing the sequential extraction procedure of BCR®. The concentrations obtained were tested by test t of Student, showing that the deviations of the obtained values don´t suggest the occurrence of statistically significant differences

<p>Multifunctional additive manufacturing has the immense potential of addressing present needs within structural health monitoring by enabling a new additive manufacturing paradigm that redefines what a sensor is, or what sensors should resemble. To achieve this, the properties of printed components must be precisely tailored to meet structure specific and application specific requirements. However due to the limited number of commercially available multifunctional filaments, this research investigates the in-house creation of adaptable piezoresistive multifunctional filaments and their potential within structural health monitoring applications based upon their characterized piezoresistive responses. To do so, a rigid polylactic acid based-filament and a flexible thermoplastic polyurethane based-filament were modified to impart piezoresistive properties using carbon nanofibers. The filaments were produced using different mixing techniques, nanoparticle concentrations, and optimally selected manufacturing parameters from a design of experiments approach. The resulting filaments exhibited consistent resistivity values which were found to be less variable under specific mixing techniques than commercially available multifunctional filaments. This improved consistency was found to be a key factor which held back currently available piezoresistive filaments from fulfilling needs within structural health monitoring. To demonstrate the ability to meet these needs, the piezoresistive responses of three dog-bone shaped sensor sizes were measured under monotonic and cyclic loading conditions for the optimally manufactured filaments. The characterized piezoresistive responses demonstrated high strain sensitivities under both tensile and compressive loads. These piezoresistive sensors demonstrated the greatest sensitivity in tension, where all three sensor sizes exhibited gauge factors over 30. Cyclic loading supported these results and further demonstrated the accuracy and reliability of the printed sensors within SHM applications.</p>