Towards the Electronic Nose: Liquid Crystal Chemical Sensors.

迈向电子鼻：液晶化学传感器。

• 批准号: 2742868
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: University of Leeds
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Studentship
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2022 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=studentship-2742868
• 关键词: Towards; Electronic; Nose; Liquid; Crystal

The context of the project is to investigate and use the unique properties of liquid crystals to respond to different gases, and act as a sensor. Microfluidics (fluid behaviour on a very small scale) can be used to produce liquid crystal droplets, and their surfaces can have other substances applied to them (be functionalised) to allow a response when a certain gas is passed over them. The alignment of liquid crystals and their change under different stimuli can be very telling, and this project aims to investigate these changes under different gases, and utilise this knowledge. Whilst this project could be exclusively either theoretical or experimental, I propose to follow a route that combines both. For example, a more theoretical approach of modelling on equipment such as the high-performance computer ARC4 at Leeds could be used to save money on materials and time in the lab. I have already had experience in this, as well as extensive python experience (with both modelling and data analysis). This will save time in the project overall, allowing for more rapid progression. My academic competency evidenced through my high first class averages during my degree will allow me to investigate the theoretical side in depth and learn more advance modelling techniques quickly. In addition, the modelling can be used to determine how properties such as the anisotropic elastic constants and surface forces of the liquid crystals can influence the response of the droplets to stimuli. This will be compared to experimental data to check that the understanding of the alignment properties; a lot of liquid crystal physics can be described mathematically. The success of the project will rely on using the theory to steer the experimental work and investigations into a number of different threads:How sensor behaviour relates to geometry (e.g. freely suspended droplets, sessile droplets or liquid crystals embedded in porous media), surface alignment and functionalisation.Droplet sensitivity. Understanding the relationships between alignment changes and liquid crystal phase, or anisotropic properties.To begin to target functionalised surfaces for the Sensor design and fabrication.Computational analysis of the results. Pattern recognition for the electrical and optical responses.The target is to make a sensitive, working electronic nose, with both optical and electronic responses to gases and to apply the knowledge gained to other sensor systems, such as chemical and bio-sensors.Understanding the optical and electrical changes the liquid crystal alignment varies when a chemical has run over it can be understood by experiments such as those done with a polarising microscope. For example, a colour change can be looked for, or a voltage change. The latter would be simpler for creating an automated analysis system, which may make it more suitable for uses in the real-world environment, and by the non-expert consumer. A key aim is to produce sensors that are cheap to make, using the amplification effect from small quantities of liquid crystal materials to provide a sensitive but noticeable effect. Applications range from gas sensing in a working environment to check for different volatile organic contaminants or other gases, for health and safety. However, I'd hope that it may eventually to be able to determine the composition of a mixed gas sample, and be a useful tool more generally, such as in the fight against climate change, where simple sensors help air quality be determined by the consumer.

该项目的背景是研究和使用液晶的独特性质来响应不同的气体，并作为传感器。微流体（非常小规模的流体行为）可用于产生液晶液滴，并且它们的表面可以施加其他物质（被功能化），以允许在某种气体通过它们时做出响应。液晶的排列及其在不同刺激下的变化非常明显，该项目旨在研究不同气体下的这些变化，并利用这些知识。虽然这个项目可以完全是理论或实验，我建议遵循一条结合两者的路线。例如，一种更理论化的设备建模方法，如利兹的高性能计算机ARC 4，可以用来节省实验室的材料和时间。我已经有了这方面的经验，以及丰富的Python经验（建模和数据分析）。这将节省整个项目的时间，允许更快的进展。我的学术能力通过我在我的学位期间的高一等平均值证明，将使我能够深入研究理论方面，并快速学习更多的先进建模技术。此外，建模可用于确定诸如液晶的各向异性弹性常数和表面力等属性如何影响液滴对刺激的响应。这将与实验数据进行比较，以检查对对齐特性的理解;很多液晶物理可以用数学描述。该项目的成功将依赖于使用该理论来指导实验工作和对许多不同线程的研究：传感器行为如何与几何形状（例如自由悬浮的液滴，固着液滴或嵌入多孔介质中的液晶），表面对齐和功能化。液滴灵敏度。了解取向变化与液晶相或各向异性特性之间的关系。开始针对传感器设计和制造的功能化表面。计算分析结果。电子和光学响应的模式识别。目标是制造一种灵敏的电子鼻，对气体具有光学和电子响应，并将所获得的知识应用于其他传感器系统，例如化学和生物了解光学和电学变化，当化学物质流过时，液晶排列发生变化，可以通过实验来理解，例如用偏振器进行的实验。显微镜例如，可以寻找颜色变化或电压变化。后者对于创建自动化分析系统来说会更简单，这可能使其更适合于在现实世界环境中使用，并且由非专家消费者使用。一个关键的目标是生产成本低廉的传感器，利用少量液晶材料的放大效应提供灵敏但明显的效果。应用范围从工作环境中的气体传感到检查不同的挥发性有机污染物或其他气体，以确保健康和安全。然而，我希望它最终能够确定混合气体样本的成分，并成为更普遍的有用工具，例如在应对气候变化方面，简单的传感器可以帮助消费者确定空气质量。