PFI:AIR-TT: Low-cost Graphene-based Gas Sensors for Hydrogen Detection

这个PFI：空气技术翻译项目的重点是翻译一个基于氧化锡纳米晶还原石墨烯氧化物(SnO2 NC-RGO)混合结构的传感平台，以满足对低成本、快速和超灵敏氢(H2)检测方法的需求。感知氢气很重要，因为如果与普通空气混合(由于空气中的氧气含量)，氢气是非常易燃的。因此，在需要或含有氢的应用中，如燃料电池、一些电池、氢动力汽车等，需要传感器。该项目将产生一个原型手持设备，将传感器芯片与数字仪表相结合，直接读取测试结果；氢传感器芯片也适用于电池、燃料电池和现有的空气质量监测设备，用于实时检测氢。该NC-RGO传感器芯片具有以下独特功能：实时监控响应迅速、微米尺寸、高灵敏度、可扩展制造和无线通信兼容性。与目前市场上的氢传感器相比，这些功能提供了快速响应、卓越的灵敏度/选择性、便携性、低成本以及与智能手机/设备的便捷连接。该项目在从研究发现转化为商业应用的过程中解决了以下技术差距。NC-RGO传感平台将进一步改进，以实现与氢相关的各种应用(例如，氢燃料电池、车辆、铅酸电池和室内空气质量监测)的低成本、可靠、超灵敏的氢检测。将调查和验证各种传感器特性，包括传感器的灵敏度、选择性、长期稳定性、在不同操作条件下的性能(例如，各种湿度值)和校准方法。对NC-RGO传感平台的深入了解将促进对杂化结构中气体分子与低维材料相互作用机理的理解。这样的理解可以进一步有助于设计具有理想性能的纳米材料，以确定金属/金属氧化物纳米管上的催化反应的活性中心和速率，并为通过纳米管的工程性质提高性能提供指导。此外，参与该项目的人员，包括本科生(包括代表不足的学生)和研究生，将通过与行业合作伙伴的互动和通过i-Corps接受额外的创业培训，获得创新和创业培训经验。该项目与NanoAffix Science LLC.、Johnson Controls和A.O.Smith合作，通过加速将产生的氢气传感技术商业化来扩大项目的影响。

This PFI: AIR Technology Translation project focuses on translating a sensing platform, which is based on tin oxide nanocrystal-reduced graphene oxide (SnO2 NC-RGO) hybrid structures, to fill the need for a low-cost, fast, and ultra-sensitive method for hydrogen (H2) detection. Sensing hydrogen is important because it is very flammable if is mixed with ordinary air (due to the oxygen content in the air). Thus, a sensor is needed in applications requiring or containing hydrogen such as fuel cells, some batteries, hydrogen powered vehicles, etc. This project will result in a prototype handheld device that combines the sensor chip with a digital meter for direct readout of test results; the H2 sensor chip is also adaptable to batteries, fuel cells, and existing air quality monitoring equipment for real-time H2 detection. This NC-RGO sensor chip has the following unique features: rapid response for real-time monitoring, micron-sized dimensions, high sensitivity, scalable fabrication, and wireless communication compatibility. Compared to current hydrogen sensors in the marketplace, these features provide fast response, superior sensitivity/selectivity, portability, low-cost, and facile connection with smart phones/devices. This project addresses the following technology gaps as it translates from research discovery toward commercial application. The NC-RGO sensing platform will be further improved in order to realize the low-cost, reliable, ultrasensitive H2 detection for various applications (e.g., H2 fuel cells, vehicles, lead-acid batteries, and air quality monitoring for indoor spaces) associated with H2. Various sensor characteristics will be investigated and validated, including sensor sensitivity, selectivity, long-term stability, performance in different operating conditions (e.g., various humidity values), and calibration methods. Insights into the NC-RGO sensing platform will advance the understanding of the interaction mechanism between gas molecules and low-dimensional materials in hybrid structures. Such understanding can further contribute to the design of nanomaterials with desirable properties to identify active sites and rates of catalytic reactions on metal/metal oxide NCs and to provide guidelines for performance enhancement through engineering properties of NCs. In addition, personnel involved in this project, undergraduates (including underrepresented students) and graduate students, will receive innovation and entrepreneurship training experiences through interacting with industrial partners and additional entrepreneurship training through I-Corps.The project engages NanoAffix Science LLC., Johnson Controls, and A.O. Smith to augment the project impact through accelerated commercialization of the resulting H2 sensing technology.