Collaborative Research: Engineering Miniaturized Gas Sensors with Hybrid Nanostructures

这对合作项目将使用2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）提供的资金进行奖励，并符合2009年3月20日白宫备忘录第2节中规定的要求，该备忘录题为“确保复苏法案资金的负责任支出”。我还确认，作为认知项目官员，该提案不支持《恢复法》A部分第1604节所述的项目。该合作项目的目的是研究一种新型的传感平台的碳纳米管（CNT）涂有离散的SnO 2纳米晶体的小型化气体传感器。 该项目将联合收割机实验（原子、电子、电学和光谱表征）与理论建模相结合，建立组成-结构-加工-传感关系，以揭示新的传感机制。通过高性能CNT和流行的传感材料SnO 2之间的婚姻，提出的混合SnO 2纳米晶-CNT平台允许以高灵敏度对各种气体进行室温传感，这是SnO 2传感器（需要高温操作）或CNT传感器（仅对选定的气体敏感）无法实现的。 该项目的研究结果有望导致小型化气体传感器，可以快速准确地检测和区分各种应用中的痕量化学物质。 纳米传感器的原子结构、电子性质、电学特性、表面化学和表面动力学的详细实验研究，以及第一性原理模型，不仅将阐明新型传感平台的基本机制，而且有助于对低维材料和混合系统中传输现象的基本理解。 该项目将创造一个独特的跨学科学习和研究环境，培养学生在材料科学，表面科学和纳米器件工程。 该项目还将通过与历史黑人学院和大学（HBCU）的合作来吸引代表性不足的群体。

This pair of collaborative projects will be awarded using funds made available by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5), and meets the requirements established in Section 2 of the White House Memorandum entitled, Ensuring Responsible Spending of Recovery Act Funds, dated March 20, 2009. I also affirm, as the cognizant Program Officer, that the proposal does not support projects described in Section 1604 of Division A of the Recovery Act. The objective of this collaborative project is to investigate a novel sensing platform of a carbon nanotube (CNT) coated with discrete SnO2 nanocrystals for miniaturized gas sensors. The project will combine experiments (atomic, electronic, electrical, and spectroscopic characterizations) with theoretical modeling to establish the composition-structure-processing-sensing relationship for revealing the novel sensing mechanism. Through the marriage between high-performance CNTs and the popular sensing material SnO2, the proposed hybrid SnO2 nanocrystal-CNT platform allows for the room-temperature sensing of various gases at high sensitivity, which is otherwise unattainable with either SnO2 sensors (high-temperature operation required) or CNT sensors (only sensitive to selected gases). The project research results are expected to lead to miniaturized gas sensors that can rapidly and accurately detect and differentiate trace amounts of chemical species for various applications. The detailed experimental investigation of the atomic structure, electronic properties, electrical characteristics, surface chemistry, and surface dynamics of nanosensors, together with first-principles models, will not only illuminate the underlying mechanisms of the novel sensing platform but also contribute to the fundamental understanding of transport phenomena in low-dimensional materials and hybrid systems. The project will create a unique interdisciplinary learning and research environment to train students in materials science, surface science, and nanodevice engineering. The project also will attract underrepresented groups through engagement with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).