| Project ID |
BPN507 |
| Website |
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| Start Date |
Tue 2009-Feb-24 10:52:35 |
| Last Updated |
Tue 2009-Aug-11 10:52:13 |
| Abstract |
In this project we are to introduce a novel gas sensor that uses the tunneling field-ion I–V characteristic as a fingerprint to identify the unknown gas type and measure its concentration. The phenomenon of field ionization consists of extracting an electron (or electrons) from gas atoms (molecules), using positive high electric fields generated at sharp tips. It has been widely used in field-ion microscopy and mass spectrometry. However, the electric fields required to field-ionize gaseous species are in the range of 2–5 V/Å, orders of magnitude higher than their breakdown fields. With the provision of low voltage operation, this method can be utilized in detection of gases at very low concentrations. In addition, because this technique does not involve adsorption or desorption of gases, the sensor exhibits a fast response and is not limited by considerations of reversibility and recovery.
The project entails fabrication of high aspect ratio field-intensifying nanostructures, and then tailoring these nanostructures to enable field-ionization of gas molecules at sub-10V voltages. The sensor will be characterized in a custom-made vacuum chamber with several gas inlets and electrical feedthroughs. |
| Status |
Continuing |
| Funding Source |
Non-BSAC |
| IAB Research Area |
NanoTechnology: Materials, Processes & Devices |
| Researcher(s) |
Ramin Banan-Sadeghian |
| Advisor(s) |
Saif Islam |
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