PFI:AIR - TT: Developing low-cost nanowire sensors based on a seed-mediated solution process

该PFI：AIR技术翻译项目的重点是翻译一种新的、低能耗的纳米线制造方法，该方法将实现纳米线传感器的可靠、经济和可扩展的制造。 低成本纳米线传感器技术很重要，因为它有可能改善多种类型的检测系统，影响疾病检测，食品安全，反恐能力，更高的作物产量（由于病原体的早期检测），以及更好地保护应急响应人员和工业工厂工人（由于更好的化学检测）。该项目将产生一种用于气体/蒸汽传感的概念验证电化学纳米传感器，具有以下独特功能：1）它将基于组合的自上而下和自下而上的纳米制造方法，其直接在微制造器件上沉积纳米线，2）它将经由室温工艺制造，3）它将利用可逆合成工艺，其可以实现现场再生和再利用，4）它将通过模块化方法具有新的或扩展的传感器能力，从而能够组合合成各种新型有机纳米线，以及5）它将与柔性电子架构兼容。 这些特点将提供以下优势：低成本，可扩展，可重复使用，模块化，并适用于各种化学品相比，其他竞争传感器技术在这个市场空间Nanowires已应用于传感超过10年，但很少有纳米线传感器已经进入市场。主要的障碍是制造的复杂性和在微电子器件中连接纳米线的困难。在目前的竞争技术中，纳米线需要对齐并放置在图案化衬底上的精确位置和方向上，这是一个复杂的放大过程。这种新技术利用金属微纳米图形作为成核点，直接在金属衬底上合成纳米线。它是基于种子介导的成核研究。当纳米颗粒用作晶种时，晶种的高曲率在晶体/晶种界面处的成核晶体上施加不可持续的应变能，并产生纳米线晶体。此外，参与该项目的研究生将通过接触商业方法，进入技术转移网络以及更深入地参与大学技术转移过程来获得技术翻译经验。该项目聘请了一位具有纳米技术风险投资经验的连续企业家来指导技术转移和商业化活动，以及一家成熟的技术支持公司，以增强从研究发现到商业现实的技术转化努力中的研究能力。

This PFI: AIR Technology Translation project focuses on translating a novel, lower energy method of creating nanowires that will enable reliable, cost-effective and scalable manufacturing of nanowire sensors. Low-cost nanowire sensor technology is important because it has the potential to improve multiple types of detection systems, with impacts in disease detection, food safety, antiterrorism capabilities, higher crop yields (due to earlier detection of pathogens), and better protection for emergency responders and industrial plant workers (due to better chemical detection). The project will result in a proof-of-concept electrochemical nanosensor for gas/vapor sensing with the following unique features: 1) it will be based on a combined top-down and bottom-up nanomanufacturing method that directly deposits nanowires on micro-fabricated devices, 2) it will be fabricated via a room temperature process, 3) it will utilize a reversible synthesis process that may enable in-field regeneration and reuse, 4) it will have new or broadened sensor capabilities through a modular approach enabling combinatory synthesis of a wide range of novel organic nanowires, and 5) it will be compatible with flexible electronic architectures. These features will provide the following advantages: low-cost, scalable, reusable, modular, and applicable to a diverse range of chemicals as compared to other competing sensor technologies in this market space.Nanowires have been applied to sensing for over 10 years but few nanowire sensors have reached the market. The major barriers are the complexity of manufacturing and difficulty in connecting nanowires in microelectronic devices. In current competing technologies, nanowires need to be aligned and placed at precise locations and orientations on the patterned substrates, a complex process to scale up. This new technology synthesizes nanowires directly on the metal substrates by using the metal micro- and nanopattern as nucleation points to grow the nanowires. It is based on seed-mediated nucleation research. When a nanoparticle is used as a seed, the high curvature of the seed imposes unsustainable strain energy on the nucleated crystal at the crystal/seed interface and results in a nanowire crystal. In addition, a graduate student involved in this project will gain technology translation experience through exposure to business methodologies, access to technology transfer networks, and a deeper engagement in the university technology transfer process.The project engages a serial entrepreneur with prior experience in nanotechnology ventures to guide technology transfer and commercialization activities, and an established technology-enabling company to augment research capability in this technology translation effort from research discovery toward commercial reality.