Metal Oxide Nanowires as Gas Sensing Elements: from Basic Research to Real World Applications
| Category | Online Presentations |
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| Abstract | Quasi 1-D metal oxide single crystal chemiresistors are close to occupy their specific niche in the real world of solid state sensorics. Potentially, the major advantage of this kind of sensors with respect to available granular thin film sensors will be their size and stable, reproducible and quantifiable performance in a wide range of operating conditions. The performance of such a gas sensor and especially its sensitivity is determined by its materials-specific surface chemistry as well as the size and shape of its active element(s). We report on the array of methods that allow one to fabricate, functionalize and characterize chemiresistors and chemi-FETs made of metal oxide nanowires. In particular, we grow nanowires with pre-programmed morphologies, which are most suitable for sensorics applications. To evaluate the heat management in the chemiresistor device we have performed a comparative study of the nanostructures with different thermal coupling with the support. To address the surface chemistry of the nanowires with greater details, we have tested a range of spectroscopy and imaging techniques to address local transport particularities taking place in the individual operating metal oxide nanostructure sensor. In particular, we were using Scanning Surface Potential Microscopy (SSPM) to investigate dc potential distributions in an operating device. We also have successfully implemented synchrotron radiation based photoelectron emission spectro- microscopy (PEEM) to explore submicron compositional and electronic (work function) inhomogeneouties in individual metal oxide nanowire wired as a chemiresistor. Finally, recent real world prototype devices such as gas sensors and e-noses based on metal oxide nanowires will be discussed. |
| Bio | 
Prof. Andrei Kolmakov specializes in surface science, transport properties, and imaging techniques of nano- objects relative to gas sensing and catalysis. He has authored or co-authored over 70 technical papers, including 2 book chapters and 5 review articles. He received his MS in physics from Moscow Physical Technical Institute in 1986. He started his research work as a staff member at the Russian Research Center Kurchatov Institute in Moscow, where he completed his PhD in solid-state physics in 1996. After his previous appointment as associate researcher at UCSB he joined in 2005 the Physics Department at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, as an Assistant Professor. In addition to his research and educational duties, he currently serves as an editorial board member for Research Letters in Nano- technology and Science of Advanced Materials. His research is currently funded by Petroleum Research Fund and Caterpillar Inc. |
| Sponsored by | NCN@Purdue Student Leadership Team |
| Cite this work | Researchers should cite this work as follows: |
| Time | 03:00 PM, October 30, 2008 |
| Location | EE 317, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN |
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