CAREER: Low-cost Arrayed Gas Sensors Using Inkjet-printed Organic Transistors

近年来，已经有了一些基于有机晶体管的气体传感器的初步演示。这些初步的演示已经证明，使用不同有机活性层的传感器对不同的气味和气相毒素表现出不同的反应。虽然单独这些传感器不能提供太多的特异性，但它们可能被排列成一个电子鼻，以一种类似于狗鼻子的方式，对各种分析物提供高灵敏度和选择性。特别是，有可能形成超低成本的传感器，适用于成本敏感的应用，如分布式环境监测和食品和药品包装的内容监测。这可以通过在低成本柔性基板上使用低成本印刷技术制造整个有机传感器阵列来实现。这种技术将开创一个前所未有的公共安全时代，减少产品浪费，主动保护环境，因为传感器具有极低的成本和灵活性，可以部署在无处不在的传感器网络中。在该提案中，研究人员将开发阵列传感器系统所需的设备和材料技术，并将使用这些技术来演示具有高灵敏度和特异性的集成低成本电子阵列。具体来说，他们将开发一种制造技术，完全使用喷墨印刷在低成本塑料基板上形成这些传感器。不同家族的有源层材料将在低成本塑料基板上排列形成高特异性传感器阵列，确保低成本同时提供高特异性和灵敏度。一名本科生和一名研究生将参与这项工作。这项工作的跨学科性质将进一步扩大两名学生的知识基础。特别是，对本科生的指导将通过批判性的复习课程和实验设计和计量教程来强调。该提案的结果也将用于大学赞助的高中外展计划。高中学生将被邀请参观实验室并获得基于喷墨的电路制造的实践经验。这将提高当地高中学生对理工科的兴趣。此外，研究人员将通过出版物、基于网络的技术传播和产业互动，努力将技术转让给工业界和其他学术团体的研究人员。该计划教育部分的一个组成部分侧重于招募和保留代表性不足的少数群体。PI将定期前往美国东部和东南部，与HBCU的少数民族学生会面，就在伯克利攻读EECS的深造机会提供建议。一名来自加州大学伯克利分校黑人工程与科学研究生组织（BGESS）的代表将陪同他进行这项工作。这项活动将用于大幅增加伯克利EECS中代表性不足群体的入学率和保留率。

In recent years, there have been some initial demonstrations of organic transistor-based gas sensors. These initial demonstrations have established that sensors using different organic active layers show different responses to different odors and gas-phase toxins. While individually these sensors do not offer much specificity, they may potentially be arrayed to form an electronic nose, offering high sensitivity and selectivity to a wide range of analytes, in a manner analogous to a dog's nose. In particular, it may be possible to form ultra-low cost sensors suitable for such cost-sensitive applications as distributed environmental monitoring and content monitoring of food and pharmaceutical packages. This may be achieved by fabricating the entire organic sensor array using a low-cost printing technology on a low-cost flexible substrate. Such a technology will usher in an era of unprecedented public safety, reduced product wastage, and proactive environmental protection since the sensors may be deployed in ubiquitous sensor networks due to their extremely low cost and flexibility. Within this proposal, the investigators will develop the device and materials technologies necessary for an arrayed sensor system, and will use these to demonstrate an integrated low-cost electronic array offering high sensitivity and specificity. Specifically, they will develop a manufacturing technology for forming these sensors on low cost plastic substrates entirely using inkjet printing. Diverse families of active layer materials will be arrayed to form high specificity sensor arrays on low-cost plastic substrates, ensuring low cost while simultaneously providing high specificity and sensitivity.An undergraduate and a graduate student will be involved in performing this work. The interdisciplinary nature of this work will further the knowledge base of both students. In particular, the mentoring of the undergraduate student will be emphasized through critical review programs and experimental design and metrology tutorials. The results of this proposal will also be used in a University-sponsored high-school outreach program. High-school students will be invited to visit the laboratory and to gain hands-on experience with inkjet-based circuit fabrication. This will increase the level of interest in science and engineering among local high-school students. Furthermore, the investigators will devote much effort to enabling transfer of the technology to researchers in industry and other academic groups through publications, web-based technology dissemination, and industrial interactions. An integral part of the educational component of this program focuses on the recruitment and retention of underrepresented minority groups. The PI will travel regularly to the eastern and southeastern United States to meet with minority students at HBCU's to advise on opportunities for advanced studies in EECS at Berkeley. A representative from BGESS (the organization of the Black Graduate Engineering and Science Students at UC Berkeley) will accompany him to facilitate this. This activity will be used to substantially increase the enrollment and retention of underrepresented groups in EECS at Berkeley.