Screen Printed Electrodes: A Boon for Forensic Chemistry Analysis for Detection of Narcotics and Explosives

Abstract

Screen printing technology is a method of ink-based printing that utilizes a stencil mesh screen to create a visual pattern on a flat surface, such as plastic or silk. This process finds application in the production of screen-printed electrodes, which are utilized in electrochemical cells as part of voltammetric techniques. These electrodes offer advantages in terms of simplicity, portability, and ease of use compared to more intricate techniques. Various voltammetric methods are employed to analyze materials present in trace quantities, including drugs and explosives. By employing screen-printed electrodes in these electro-analytical techniques, it becomes possible to achieve straightforward, cost-effective, sensitive, and rapid detection of analytes with forensic significance. This highlights the significance of screen-printed electrodes in both onsite and laboratory forensic examinations.