Printed Electronics Technology and Its Application to Low-Cost Sensors

近年来，印刷技术在开发低成本、大面积电子系统方面受到了极大的关注。传感器一直是印刷电子技术实验的突出领域之一。虽然印刷传感器的概念并不新鲜，但在利用印刷电子技术开发高性能传感器方面仍然存在重大挑战。关键的挑战是印刷传感器的制造和性能非常依赖于各种制造参数，例如材料成分和工艺。一些其他的挑战是那些涉及到的过程吞吐量，成本和性能之间的权衡，大线宽，再现性差，和基板变形。如果这些挑战得不到解决，性能问题将限制印刷传感器的商业化进程。本研究的长期目标是开发创新的低成本印刷传感器技术解决方案，推动成本和性能的界限。为了克服开发高性能低成本印刷传感器的挑战，该研究计划的目标是：1）设计简单的新型传感器，2）通过不同的材料及其成分和印刷工艺实现它们，3）沿着各种参数进行广泛的研究，以了解基本操作和性能限制问题，并设计低成本的高性能传感器。为了实现这一目标，我的研究计划将集中在三个短期目标：1）设计和应用新型印刷声传感器用于环境监测，2）开发基于全印刷RLC（电阻电感电容）谐振器的无线无源电子鼻（e-nose）用于食品质量监测，3）开发所有印刷电化学生物传感器。该研究项目将培养4名博士生、3名工程硕士生和3名本科生。它将使受资助的学生有机会发展印刷电子，微电子和电子材料领域的重要技能，所有这些都是在印刷电子领域工作的工程师所必需的技能。这项研究对传感器领域的学术界和工业界都很重要。基于硅微机械技术的传感器在普通人的日常生活中仍然是昂贵的。印刷电子在开发低成本传感器方面发挥着越来越重要的作用。拟议的研究计划将确保印刷传感器的成本保持较低，同时提高其性能。此外，它将产生高质量和高影响力的研究出版物，有效的行业参与，以及该领域的高附加值服务和商业产品。反过来，它将带来印刷传感器和加拿大经济研究的进步。

In recent years, printing technology has received significant interest for developing low-cost, large area electronic systems. Sensors have been one of the prominent areas of experimentation for printed electronic technology. Although the concept of printed sensors is not new, there are still significant challenges in developing high performance sensors with printed electronics technology. The key challenge is that the fabrication and performance of printed sensors depend very strongly on various fabrication parameters, such as material composition and process. Some of the other challenges are those that relate to the process throughput, trade-offs between cost and performance, large linewidth, poor reproducibility, and substrate distortion. If the challenges are not addressed, the performance issue will limit the commercial progress of printed sensors.The long-term objective of this research is to develop innovative low-cost printed sensor technology solutions that will push the boundaries of cost and performance. To overcome the challenges in developing high performance low-cost printed sensors, this research program will aim to 1) design simple novel sensors, 2) implement them by varying materials and their composition, and printing processes, and 3) perform extensive studies along various parameters to understand the fundamental operations and performance limiting issues, and devise high performance sensors with low-cost. In pursuit of this goal, my research program will focus on three short objectives: 1) Design and apply novel printed acoustic sensors for environmental monitoring, 2) develop fully printed RLC (resistor inductor capacitor) resonators based wireless passive electronic nose (e-nose) for food quality monitoring, and 3) develop all printed electrochemical biosensors. This research program will contribute to the training of 4 PhD, 3 MEng and 3undergraduate students. It will give supported students the opportunity to develop important skills in printed electronics, microelectronics, and electronic materials area, all of which are skills necessary for any engineers performing work in the printed electronics area.The research will be important to both academic and industry community working in sensors area. Sensors based on silicon micromachined based technology are still expensive to be deployed in everyday life of common people. Printed electronics is increasingly playing role in developing low-cost sensors. The proposed research program will ensure that the cost of printed sensors remain low while improving their performance. Furthermore, it will produce high quality and high impact research publications, effective industry engagements, and high value added services and commercial products in the field. In turn, it will bring advancement of research in printed sensors and Canadian Economy.