Nanostructured perovskite gas sensors prepared by high energy ball milling

本课题旨在利用高能球磨（HEBM）技术获得的纳米混合氧化物的独特结构特征，开发高性能、低成本的气体传感器。气体传感器广泛应用于从家庭安全和过程控制到环境污染物监测和汽车工业的不同领域。环境问题和更严格的立法的实施导致对越来越多的敏感和准确的传感器的需求越来越大，而且价格合理。近年来的研究表明，纳米结构的金属氧化物正成为开发具有改进气敏性能的气体传感器的关键材料。由于它们的高表面积和小粒度，预期的改进是相当大的。然而，这种材料的制造技术面临着废料处理、批量生产和成本方面的挑战。HEBM是一种合成技术，在制造低成本和高性能的氧化物基纳米催化剂方面具有成熟的市场能力。催化剂和气体传感器功能之间的内在相似性让我们相信HEBM也是一种合适的氧化物传感器制造路线。因此，本提案的目标是首先证明HEBM对传感器应用的适用性。然后，研究项目将集中于合成和筛选一些配方，以揭示工艺参数和化学成分对纳米结构氧化物（即具有ABO3通式的钙钛矿结构）的物理化学和气体传感特性的影响。最后，随着对工艺和材料特性的深入了解，我们的目标是优化氧化物配方和制造工艺，以开发具有良好结构，高性能和可承受成本的传感器。在该项目完成后，预计HEBM将被认为是钙钛矿气体传感器的合适制造技术，并将该技术转移到加拿大工业；已积极在其他应用领域开发类似技术。

This proposal aims to exploit the unique structural features of nanostructured mixed oxides obtained by the high energy ball milling (HEBM) technique to develop high performance and low cost gas sensors. Gas sensors are widely used in different fields from domestic safety and process control to monitoring environmental pollutants and the automotive industry. Environmental concerns and the implementation of tougher legislation have led to greater demand for more and more sensitive and accurate sensors at an affordable cost. Recent research indicates that nanostructured metal oxides are becoming the key materials for the development of gas sensors with improved gas-sensing properties. The expected improvements are considerable due to their high surface area and small particle size. However, manufacturing techniques of such materials face challenges with respect to waste treatment, mass production and cost. HEBM is one of the synthesis techniques with proven marketable capabilities for fabrication of low cost and high performance oxide-based nanocatalysts. Innermost similarities between the catalysts and gas sensor functions let believe that HEBM is a suitable manufacturing route for oxide sensors as well. It is therefore the goal of this proposal to first prove the suitability of HEBM for sensor applications. The research projects will then focus on the synthesis and screening of a number of formulations to reveal the effect of process parameters and chemical compositions on the physicochemical and gas sensing properties of nanostructured oxides (namely perovskite structures with a general formula of ABO3). Finally, with a deeper understanding of process and material characteristics, we aim to optimise the oxide formulation and manufacturing process to develop sensors with favourable structures, high performance and at an affordable cost. At the completion of this program, it is expected that HEBM will be recognized as a suitable manufacturing technique for perovskite gas sensors and the technology will be transferred to Canadian industry; already active in the exploitation of similar technology in other application areas.