CHARGE-TRANSFER COMPLEX NANOWIRE (CTC-NW) ELECTROCHEMISTRY FOR INTEGRATED SENSING
Abstract
Chemical sensors are used in diverse applications including personal safety, industrial hygiene, environmental regulations, and homeland security. Nanowire sensors promise to be the next generation building block for the detection of toxic compounds due to their ultrahigh surface-to-volume ratio, sensitivity, selectivity, fast response, and low power consumption. However, transitioning nanowire sensors from the laboratory into devices has proven problematic. Current synthesis methods for nanowires do not allow them to be readily integrated into microelectronics. The proposed project will pursue a chemical engineering solution to this problem by directly depositing nanowire sensors on microelectronic substrates using seed-mediated nanoelectrochemistry. The overall objective of this project is to engineer nanowire chemistry and electrode patterns to enable precise synthesis of charge-transfer complex nanowire (CTC-NW) sensors on sensor substrates. We will design micro/nanoelectrodes of various sizes and shapes and study the growth of CTC-NWs using these electrodes as points of nucleation. We will study CTC-NW electrocrystallization using faceted metal nanoparticles as nucleation seeds to further reduce the nanowire diameter. Finally, we will demonstrate the use of CTC-NWs on patterned nanoelectrodes for the detection of chemicals of interest to DoD. We will apply the basic science knowledge of CTC nanoelectrochemistry towards an enabling technology of nanowire sensors and sensor arrays. The innovation combines synthesis, assembly, and integration of nanowires into one step, which could significantly reduce the complexity in nanowire functionalization. Electrocrystallization not only enables direct synthesis of nanomaterials on electronics but also produces higher quality crystals than the prevalent chemical or polymerization synthesis routes. This one-step, solution-based process is compatible with microelectronics and internet-of-things sensor platforms.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Aug 11, 2021
- Source ID
- FA23862014077
Entities
People
- Guangzhao Mao
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- United States Air Force
- University of New South Wales