INTERDIGITATED MICROSENSOR ELECTRODESTM (IMEs) (Microfrabricated Inerdigitated Electrode Arrays (IDAs))

View animated GIF of: Un-packaged IME IME Probes

IME DEVICES	Line and Space, Digit Length	Designs	Chip Size (l x w x t)	Conductor
XX50 Series (50 digit pairs)
IME 2050.5 SERIES	20 microns, 5 mm long	M	2.0 cm x 1.0 cm x 0.05 cm	Au, Pt, ITO
IME 1550.5 SERIES	15 microns, 5 mm long	M, CD, FD	2.0 cm x 1.0 cm x 0.05 cm	Au, Pt, ITO
IME 1050.5 SERIES	10 microns, 5 mm long	M, CD, FD	2.0 cm x 1.0 cm x 0.05 cm	Au, Pt, ITO
IME 0550.5 SERIES	5 microns, 5 mm long	M, CD, FD	2.0 cm x 1.0 cm x 0.05 cm	Au, Pt, ITO
XX25 Series (25 digit pairs)
IME 2025.3 SERIES	20 microns, 3 mm long	M, FD	1.0 cm x 0.5 cm x 0.05 cm, 2.0 cm x 1.0 cm x 0.05 cm	Au, Pt, ITO
IME 1525.3 SERIES	15 microns, 3 mm long	M, FD	1.0 cm x 0.5 cm x 0.05 cm, 2.0 cm x 1.0 cm x 0.05 cm	Au, Pt, ITO
IME 1025.3 SERIES	10 microns, 3 mm long	M, FD	1.0 cm x 0.5 cm x 0.05 cm, 2.0 cm x 1.0 cm x 0.05 cm	Au, Pt, ITO
IME 0525.3 SERIES	5 microns, 3 mm long	M, FD	1.0 cm x 0.5 cm x 0.05 cm, 2.0 cm x 1.0 cm x 0.05 cm	Au, Pt, ITO

	IME Brochure (155kB pdf)	IME Prices	Price List
Introduction and Background	Applications of IMEs	Technical Specifications	IME Accessories	Methods	Application Notes

Introduction and Background Ø Interdigitated Microsensor Electrodes (IMEs) are inert, array microelectrodes formed from patterned conductors on an insulating substrate chip. They are designed for the simultaneous interrogation of the electrical, electrochemical, and optical properties of thin polymeric films and coatings, for applications in microelectrochemistry, for electrical/electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and for chemical and biological sensor development. Ø Microfabricated from magnetron sputter-deposited gold , e-gun vapor-deposited platinum, or conductive indium tin oxide (ITO), these devices are supplied in three configurations or designs; Monolith (M), Combined Differential (CD) and Full Differential (FD), and as packaged (with attached leadwires and encapsulated) or as un-packaged die. Ø IME chips of gold, platinum or ITO are available with 5 microns, 10 microns, 15 microns, or 20 microns line and space dimensions. Ø In research and product development, these devices are widely used for conductimetric, chemoresistive chemical and biological sensors using electrically conducting (electroconductive) polymers, for impedance sensors based on Langmuir-Blodgett thin films, for studying environmental effects on polymer thin films, and in modern micro-electrochemistry. Ø Investigate the chemoresistive responses of transducer-active, polymeric films in the same electrode configuration, the same test environment, and on the same sample film. Develop these devices into products where the application requires a compact, durable and versatile chemical or biological chemoresistive or electroanalytical sensor of low cost. Back to Top Applications of IMEs Applications of IMEs in research and product development include: Ø As conductimetric chemical sensors and biosensors based on electroactive polymers. Such devices exploit the very large change in electrical impedance that accompanies oxidation/reduction of these polymer films. Films are conferred with chemical and biological specificity through the use of inorganic catalysts, organic binding compounds, and natural biorecognition agents such as enzymes, antibodies and DNA. Ø For the study of electrical and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy of organic thin films and coatings. Ø As a capacitance probe during the deposition or cure of an organic thin film or polymer e.g. based on Langmuir-Blodgett thin film deposition or cure of an epoxy. Ø In modern microelectrochemistry -- as generator and collector electrodes in electrochemical amplification or in the performance of electroanalysis in high impedance environments. Ø In conductimetry studies. To determine the conductance of low conductivity media and in conductimetric titrations. Ø In coatings research and development. For example, to study the transport of water into and through a coating or to study the physical aging of the polymer upon environmental exposure or accelerated aging. Back to Top Technical Specifications
	Ø Chip Substrate:	Schott D263 Borosilicate Glass
		Dielectric Constant, Epsilon(r) at 1 MHz			6.7
		Dielectric Loss Angle, tan delta, at 1 MHz			61 x 10-4
		Electrical Resistivity (50 Hz) (250 C)			1.6 x 10^8 ohm cm
		Coefficient of Linear Thermal Expansion, * 20-300 Deg C			7.2 x 10^-6 K^-1
		Refractive Index at 20 C, ne ( Lambda = 546.1 nm)			1.5249
	Ø Metallization:	100 Å Ti|W / 1000 Å Au or Pt and ITO = 10 Ohms/sq
	Ø XX50 Series			2050.5		1550.5	1050.5	0550.5
			Digit length, d, (microns)	4,980		4,985	4,990	4,995
			No.of digit pairs per sensor, N	50		50	50	50
			Digit Width, a, (microns)	20		15	10	05
			Interdigit Space, a, (microns)	20		15	10	05
			Spatial Periodicity, lambda, (microns)	80		60	40	20
			Zaretsky Meander Length, M, (cm)	24.90		24.93	24.95	24.98
			Center Line or Serpentine Length (cm)	49.70		49.65	49.60	49.55
			Cell Constant (cm^-1)	0.040		0.040	0.040	0.040
	Ø XX25 Series			2025.3		1525.3	1025.3	0525.3
			Digit length, d, (microns)	2,980		2,985	2,990	2,995
			No. of digit pairs per sensor, N	25		25	25	25
			Digit Width, a, (microns)	20		15	10	05
			Interdigit Space, a, (microns)	20		15	10	05
			Spatial Periodicity, lambda, (microns)	80		60	50	20
			Zaretsky Meander Length, M, (cm)	7.45		7.46	7.48	7.49
			Center Line or Serpentine Length (cm)	14.8		14.77	14.75	14.73
			Cell Constant (cm^-1)	0.040		0.040	0.040	0.040
	Ø  IME Chip Dimensions		Un-packaged Die	Packaged Die
			(l x w x t)	(l x w x t)
	M, CD, FD		2.00 x 1.00 x 0.05 cm	13.2 x 1.38 x 0.7 cm
	XX25.3 M		1.00 x 0.50 x 0.05 cm	N.A.
	Ø Packaging
	Electrode Body:		PVC-Jacketed printed circuit board
	Encapsulant:		Epoxy header. Polyimide packaged chip.
	Leadwires:		Color coded, 28 AWG stranded copper, shielded, and PVC jacketed
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IME Accessories

IME TEST CLIP	Wand	Test Clip	ADAPTER	ADAPTER	ADAPTER
Lead Length	4.5 cm	N/A	30 cm	12 cm	1 meter
Connector Type	Gold Plated	Gold Plated Pins	Gold Plated Pins	Gold Plated Pins	Banana Plugs
Number of Conductors	4	4	4 + shield	4 + shield	4 + shield
Lead	Rigid Wand	N/A	Rigid Rod	Flexible	Flexible
Part No.	WAND	STC 4	STCA-1-R	STCA-2-P	STCA-3-B

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Methods Ø Films or coatings may be applied to the IME device by dip coating, spin casting, spray painting, air-brushing, brush painting, by Langmuir-Blodgett thin film deposition technique, by electropolymerization, and by molecular self assembly. Back to Top Application Notes For further information, request Application Notes or you may download application note files: Ø Interdigitated Microsensor Electrodes: Applications and References. Ø Conductimetric Urea Biosensor Formed From Interdigitated Microsensor Electrodes Ø Care and Cleaning Procedures Ø Resistance (resistivity) and conductance (conductivity) measurements using IMEs Interdigitated Microsensor Electrode (IMETM) is the tradename for a family of devices developed by ABTECH. Also called interdigitated arrays (IDAs), these devices are microfabricated (using microelectronics fabrication techniques) to form patterns of conductors deposited on an insulating substrate chip. Back to Top

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Contact: Ann M. Wilson, Manager,
Applications Development ABTECH Scientific, Inc.
800 East Leigh Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219
Telephone Number: +1-804-783-7829 Fax Number: +1-804-783-7830
e-mail: sales@abtechsci.com

Last Revision 04/10/2010, (c) 2000-2010 ABTECH Scientific, Inc.