NER: Polymer Nanowire Chemical Sensors for Aqueous Media

该项目正在评估使用由非导电聚合物制成的纳米线来检测溶液中各种离子的可行性。假设这种聚合物导线的电阻率受从水中吸附电解质的影响，不同迁移率的离子将以不同的方式改变聚合物的电导率。这项工作涉及三个目标：水性纳米线传感器的制备，纳米线的电学表征，以及基于纳米线概念的纳米线电接触和双传感器的开发。这项研究将评估基于聚合物的纳米线是否比改性的金属或陶瓷纳米线更通用，制造成本更低。了解聚合物纳米线的行为可能会导致许多新型传感器和控制选项的开发。

This project is assessing the feasibility of using nano-wires made of non-conductive polymers to detect various ions in solution. The hypothesis is that resistivity of such polymer wires are affected by sorption of electrolytes from the water and that ions with different mobilities would alter the electrical conductivity of the polymer in different ways. The work involves three objectives: fabrication of aqueous nanowire sensors, electrical characterization of the nanowires, and development of nanowire electrical contacts and dual sensors based on nanowire concepts. The study will evaluate whether polymer-based nanowires are more versatile than modified metal or ceramic nanowires and more affordable to manufacture. Understanding the behavior of polymer nanowires could lead to the development of many kinds of novel sensors and control options.