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Investigation of Composites of Carbon Black and Metallocycles, and Functionalized Transition-Metal Nanoparticles as Chemiresistive Vapor Sensors

Citation

Garcia-Berrios, Edgardo (2011) Investigation of Composites of Carbon Black and Metallocycles, and Functionalized Transition-Metal Nanoparticles as Chemiresistive Vapor Sensors. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/WSN1-HP60. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:05232011-115151777

Abstract

An electronic nose is a man-made implementation of an olfactory system that is comprised of an array of broadly cross-reactive sensors. Electronic noses are used in the food industry, environmental monitoring, explosive detection and medical diagnosis. Our laboratory has focused in the development and implementation of arrays of low power, inexpensive chemiresistive thin films, that are able to identify and quantify a diverse collection of vapors and mixtures of vapors. Novel bioinspired sensors, and array chamber architectures are constantly been developed and improved to fulfill the desired performance of such arrays in different applications. This work details the development and the sensing performance of novel sensor materials based on composites of carbon black and metalloporphyrins, and organically-functionalized gold (Au) and titanium (IV) dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles.

Composites of carbon black and metalloporphyrin complexes were developed and optimized to sensitively detect and classify a series of organic vapors. Such sensors films also exhibited a high sensitivity towards trace levels of ammonia (NH3(g)) and 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) in air. Such composites broaden the types of materials that can be used for this type of low-power chemiresistive vapor sensing, and broaden the types of analytes that can be sensitively detected to include inorganic gases and explosives, as well as organic vapors.

Au and TiO2 nanoparticles were synthesized and functionalized with a variety of ligands. These materials allowed for molecular control of the interparticle physicochemical properties such as electron transfer. Details about the performance of each unique functionalized Au or TiO2 nanoparticle film upon exposure to a variety of organic vapors was described as a function of ligand length, structure and other physicochemical properties. The discrimination performance for arrays of such sensors was also evaluated.

Item Type:Thesis (Dissertation (Ph.D.))
Subject Keywords:electronic nose, nanoparticles, sensors, chemiresistors, composites
Degree Grantor:California Institute of Technology
Division:Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Major Option:Chemistry
Thesis Availability:Public (worldwide access)
Research Advisor(s):
  • Lewis, Nathan Saul
Thesis Committee:
  • Gray, Harry B. (chair)
  • Lewis, Nathan Saul
  • Reisman, Sarah E.
  • Bercaw, John E.
Defense Date:23 May 2011
Record Number:CaltechTHESIS:05232011-115151777
Persistent URL:https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:05232011-115151777
DOI:10.7907/WSN1-HP60
Default Usage Policy:No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided.
ID Code:6419
Collection:CaltechTHESIS
Deposited By: Edgardo Garcia
Deposited On:19 Oct 2011 18:49
Last Modified:09 Oct 2019 17:09

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