RUI: Fundamental Investigation on Flexible High Temperature Devices

该项目解决了对高温下灵活无线气体传感设备的需求，适用于各种应用，包括急救人员的使用。监测第一响应者周围的环境条件，并迅速将信息传递给现场指挥官和事件指挥部，对于评估第一响应者的健康和表现的真实态势感知至关重要。具体来说，在森林火灾和恐怖袭击期间，环境监测系统通常有望为事件管理者提供第一响应者所承受的气相暴露的实时数据，使他们能够在时间紧迫的情况下做出最佳决策。基于氧化钇稳定氧化锆的柔性陶瓷的可用性，可以承受高温，为实现新设备开辟了可能性。在与当地工业界的合作中，研究人员正在研究柔性基板的电气特性，以实现诸如高温气体传感器和天线等功能设备。通过利用集成设备，消防员将更好地应对世界上一些最致命的情况，帮助保护平民和消防员自己的生命和财产。研究结果将直接影响在森林火灾、恐怖袭击、地震等极端环境和情况下工作的急救人员。该项目为工科本科学生提供了丰富的研究经验，以便为未来应对复杂挑战的劳动力做好准备。该项目旨在解决科学、技术、工程和数学领域最大的教育挑战之一：让学生参与科学和工程。参与这个项目的工业界和学术界的研究人员正在设计关于无线系统的创造性和互动式实验室模块，以吸引代表性不足的高中生。该大学-工业项目正在探索在新型超薄柔性基板上紧凑集成的高温无线传感器系统的可行性，其双重目的是为本科生提供全面的研究经验和培训。研究人员正在进行基本的电气研究，以表征高温气体传感和通信应用的柔性衬底。通过实施高温天线来评估衬底作为集成器件平台的适用性。随后，该天线集成了一个高温气体传感器和一个高温压控振荡器。天线性能评估是通过进行高温试验、热冲击试验、弯曲程序和显微结构检查来评估的。通过在工业环境中不同温度的消声室中测试回波损耗、辐射模式、增益和效率，可以评估该设备的现场准备情况。用于监测森林火灾可能产生的有毒气体的高温气体传感器正在一个灵活的平台上实施。天线和气体传感器性能的长期测试和独立验证正在进行中。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This project addresses the need for a flexible wireless gas sensing device at high temperature for wide variety of applications including the use by first responders. Monitoring environmental conditions surrounding a first responder and relaying the information to the on-scene commander and incident command quickly is essential to assess true situational awareness of the health and performance of the first responder. Specifically, during forest fires and terrorist attacks, the environmental monitoring system is typically expected to provide real-time data on gas phase exposure endured by the first responders to the incident managers enabling them to make the best decisions possible in situations where time is critical. The availability of a flexible ceramic based on Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia that can withstand high temperature have opened up possibilities to realize new devices. In partnership with the local industry, the investigators are pursuing electrical characterization of the flexible substrate to implement functional devices such as high temperature gas sensor and antenna. By leveraging the integrated device, firefighters will be better-equipped to face some of the world’s deadliest situations, helping preserve life and property for civilians and the firefighters themselves. The research results will directly impact first responders operating under extreme environments and circumstances such as forest fires, terrorist attack, earthquake, etc. The project is offering extensive research experience for undergraduate engineering students in order to prepare them for future workforce tackling complex challenges. The project is intending to address one of the biggest educational challenges in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics community: keeping students engaged in science and engineering. The industry and academic investigators involved in this project are designing creative and interactive lab modules on wireless systems to engage under-represented high school students. The university-industry project is exploring the feasibility of a compact and integrated high temperature wireless sensor system on a new and ultrathin flexible substrate with a dual intent of providing comprehensive undergraduate research experience and training. The investigators are pursuing fundamental electrical investigations to characterize the flexible substrate for high temperature gas sensing and communication applications. The suitability of the substrate as an integrated device platform is being assessed by implementing a high temperature antenna. Subsequently, the antenna integration with a high temperature gas sensor and a high temperature voltage-controlled oscillator is being implemented. Antenna performance evaluation is being assessed by performing high-temperature tests, thermal shock tests, bending routines, and microstructural examinations. Field readiness of the device is being evaluated by testing return loss, radiation pattern, gain, and efficiency in anechoic chamber at various temperatures in an industry setting. High temperature gas sensor to monitor toxic gases that might arise from forest fires is being implemented on a flexible platform. Long-term testing and independent validation of the antenna and gas sensor performance are being carried out.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.