KП-06-Н87/8_project

Development of sensor elements based on composite metal-oxide thin films and nanostructures

KП-06-Н87/8

Gas sensors are an essential component in gas emission detection systems, which are used for environmental monitoring, for control and safety of industrial productions, for the analysis of human breath in the diagnosis of a number of diseases and many others. It is well known that nanostructured materials demonstrate higher sensitivity, lower operating temperature, and fast response to detected gas compared to their traditional thin-film counterparts.

The possibility of improving the properties of gas sensors through the use of new mixed metal oxide composites is being intensively investigated. By combining two metal oxides, composite materials are created that exhibit the properties and characteristics of the individual metal oxide components, but at the same time may exhibit new unique properties.

The development of efficient and low-cost nanostructured gas sensors of metal oxides or metal oxide composites is still an open topic for scientific researchers and needs further studies for optimization. It is necessary to find an efficient method for the production of gas sensor layers to detect and measure low concentrations of various gases, both for industry, the workplace and our homes, and for the diagnosis of diseases.

The main goal of the current project is to create composite thin films and metal oxide nanostructures for the detection of low concentration gases operating at room temperature. Within the framework of the project, the sensor elements will be created using physical deposition methods such as pulsed laser deposition and magnetron sputtering, as well as their combined application. The morphology, structure and chemical composition of the obtained nanostructures of mixed metal oxides will be investigated and tests will be carried out to determine the sensor behavior of the investigated structures when exposed to different gas components. Based on the obtained results of the characterization and experiments to determine the sensor behavior of the different nanostructures of mixed metal oxides, conditions of their synthesis will be optimized. The optimal system will be determined to create a sensing element that operates at a relatively low temperature and exhibits good selectivity and sensitivity at low concentrations of the reactant gases.

The proposed project advocates scientific research in the field of creation and research of composite nanostructures and the possibility of their application as sensor layers. Elucidation of the factors influencing the sensory behavior of nanomaterials is of fundamental importance for the understanding of the ongoing processes, and also from the point of view of the practical application of the created nanostructures.