PFI:AIR - TT: Microheater-based Platform for Combustible Gas Sensing

这个PFI：AIR技术翻译项目的重点是翻译加州大学伯克利分校？的低功耗微加热器传感器平台，以满足低功耗可燃气体传感器的需求。可燃气体的准确检测对于许多工业过程的安全运行至关重要，特别是在石油和天然气工业中。在工业环境中安装可燃气体监测器网络可以实现快速泄漏检测，并提高安全性和环境保护。 与在危险设施（例如炼油厂）中安装有线气体监测器相关联的建造和检查成本是令人望而却步的。电池供电的无线监测器将消除这种安装负担，但是当前可燃气体传感器技术的高功率要求需要大的、昂贵的、重的电池，或者对必须每周更换电池的设施人员造成重大不便。该项目的重点是解决可燃气体传感器的需求，其功耗比最好的商用传感器低得多（至少100倍），同时保持灵敏度和寿命等性能参数。 所提出的具有竞争性灵敏度和寿命特性的超低功耗可燃气体传感器将使工业环境中的可燃气体无处不在的无线监测成为可能，从而提高安全性。此外，从长远来看，该技术可以在智能手机中嵌入气体传感器，从而提高人身安全。其他重要影响是人力资源开发，特别是研究生和本科生的培训。该项目的核心技术是一种悬浮式微加热器，其表面涂有催化碳氢化合物燃烧的传感材料。 这些微加热器传感器只需几mW的功率即可达到500 °C的工作温度。 然而，在开发用于可燃气体感测的商业原型方面仍然存在一些挑战。这些包括传感层对微加热器的稳定粘附，材料的稳定性和传感器在适当的大气条件下的响应，以及可再现的催化剂沉积。该项目将为研究生和本科生提供核心培训，使他们受益于表面化学、材料科学、电气工程和市场分析等跨学科培训。学生将获得经验，不仅在研究，而且在技术演示通过他们参与会议与行业领导者。这将为学生提供研究和开发与技术和市场之间的相互联系的独特体验。 此外，学生将能够利用伯克利哈斯商学院的资源（如启动：伯克利初创企业竞赛计划）以及CleanTech开放加速器计划，以获得创业/技术翻译培训。

This PFI: AIR Technology Translation project focuses on translating UC Berkeley?s low power microheater sensor platform to fill the need for low-power combustible gas sensors. Accurate detection of flammable gases is essential for safe operation of many industrial processes, especially in the oil and gas industry. Installing networks of combustible gas monitors in industrial settings can allow for rapid leak detection and increased safety and environmental protection. The construction and inspection cost associated with installing wired gas monitors in a hazardous facility, such as a refinery, are prohibitive. Battery-powered wireless monitors would eliminate this installation burden, but the high power requirements for current combustible gas sensor technology necessitate a large, expensive, heavy battery or represent a major inconvenience to facility personnel who must replace the battery as often as every week. This project focuses on addressing the need for combustible gas sensors with significantly lower power consumption (at least 100x) than the best commercially available sensor, while maintaining performance parameters such as sensitivity and lifetime. The proposed ultra-low power combustible gas sensor with competitive sensitivity and lifetime characteristics will enable ubiquitous wireless monitoring of combustible gases in industrial settings, resulting in enhanced safety. Furthermore, in the long-term, the technology may enable embedding gas sensors in smart phones, which will result in increased personal safety. Additional significant impact is on human resource development, in particular in the training of graduate and undergraduate students. The core technology in this project is a suspended microheater coated with a sensing material that catalyzes hydrocarbon combustion. These microheater sensors require only a few mW of power to reach operation temperatures of 500 °C. However, several challenges remain in developing a commercial prototype for combustible gas sensing. These include stable adhesion of the sensing layer to the microheater, stability of materials and sensor response in appropriate atmospheric conditions, and reproducible catalyst deposition. This project addresses these technology gaps as it translates from discovery research toward commercial application.The project will provide core training for graduate and undergraduate students who will benefit from interdisciplinary training in surface chemistry, materials science, electrical engineering and market analysis. The students will gain experience not only in research but also in technical presentation through their participation in meetings with industry leaders. This will provide the students with a unique experience in the interconnectivity between research and development and technology and the marketplace. In addition, the students will be able to take advantage of resources at the Haas School of Business at Berkeley (such as Launch: The Berkeley Start-Up Competition program) as well as the CleanTech Open Accelerator program to gain entrepreneurial/technology translation training.