Organic electronic Sensor testing using Environmental Chamber

有机电子产品，也称为塑料或可印刷电子产品，使用聚合物或小碳基分子半导体，使其具有固有的灵活性，与传统的硅基半导体相比，制造成本低。目前基于有机电子的技术是新型的柔性电话和电视显示器，具有可忽略不计的热量产生的高效照明和塑料太阳能电池。随着对灵活、廉价技术的需求不断增加，人们相信对有机电路的需求将超过硅电子产品。这项研究将专注于塑料电子产品的另一个日益增长的应用：高度特定的传感器。可穿戴传感器可以检测关键生理参数，存储数据并在需要时提供药物。廉价的有毒气体传感器可以改善化学处理和人员安全。具有超快响应时间的高度特异性传感器将允许现场检测不同的分析物，从饮用水中的污染物到运动员使用的提高成绩的药物。压敏传感器可以为机器人提供触觉，也可以为烧伤患者恢复触觉。成功实施或改进任何这些装置都将对加拿大人和国际社会的生活产生重大影响。然而，为了能够识别新的候选传感器，我们必须首先在受控环境中研究相应的设备。本申请中提出的设备是一种最先进的环境室，其将有助于在各种气体环境下对新型有机气体传感器进行受控表征。这些专利结构的设计、制造和表征将有利于加拿大人的健康、化工厂的效率和产量以及环境监测。延迟获取该室将损害我及时训练HPQ并验证新设备作为潜在传感器的能力。这些设备对我作为部门新成员建立研究计划至关重要。在渥太华大学的化学和生物工程系，并作为一个新兴的领导者，在这个不断增长的领域的有机电子传感器的研究。

Organic electronics, also known as plastic or printable electronics, use polymer or small carbon-based molecule semiconductors, making them inherently flexible with low manufacturing costs compared to traditional silicon based semiconductors. Current technologies based on organic electronics are novel flexible phone and television displays, highly efficient lighting with negligible heat production and plastic solar cells. With the increasing demand for flexible, inexpensive technology, it is believed that the demand for organic circuitry will exceed that of silicon electronics. This research will focus on the fabrication of another growing application of plastic electronics: highly specific sensors. Wearable sensors can detect key physiological parameters, store data and deliver drugs when needed. Inexpensive toxic gas sensors can improve chemical processing and personnel safety. Highly specific sensors with ultra-fast response times will allow for on-site detection of different analytes ranging from contaminants in drinking water to performance-enhancing drugs used by athletes. Pressure-sensitive sensors can give the sense of touch to robotics as well as restoring it for burn victims. Successful implementation or improvement of any of these devices will significantly impact the lives of Canadians and the international community. However, to be able to identify novel candidate sensors, we must first investigate the respective devices in a controlled environment. The equipment proposed in this application is a state of the art environmental chamber that will facilitate the controlled characterization of novel organic gas sensors under various gaseous environments. The design, fabrication and characterization of these patentable structures will benefit the health of Canadians, the efficiencies and output of chemical plants as well as environmental monitoring. Delays in acquiring this chamber will compromise my ability to train HPQ promptly and validate the novel devices as potential sensors. This equipment is critical for the establishment of my research program as a new recruit to the Dept. of Chemical and Biological Engineering at the University of Ottawa and as an emerging leader in this growing field of organic electronic sensor research.