The researchers from the Department of Microelectronics and Biomedical Engineering of the Faculty of Computers, Informatics and Microelectronics published a new exceptional scientific paper – “Sensing performance of CuO/Cu2O/ZnO:Fe heterostructure coated with thermally stable ultrathin hydrophobic PV3D3 polymer layer for battery application”, authored by professors Nicolai ABABII and Nicolae MAGARIU, under the guidance of univ. prof., Dr. Oleg LUPAN. The prestigious scientific journal Materials Today Chemistry (impact factor: 8,301), redacted by the famous ELSEVIER publishing house, is a multi-disciplinary journal focused on all aspects of materials chemistry, which is one of the fastest developing areas of science, covering the application of chemistry-based techniques to the study of materials, including materials synthesis and behavior, and the relationships between material structure and properties at the atomic and molecular scale. Materials Today Chemistry (impact factor: 31,041), part of the Materials Today family, covers the most cutting-edge, innovative and influential papers within the materials science community.
„Sensing performance of CuO/Cu2O/ZnO:Fe heterostructure coated with thermally stable ultrathin hydrophobic PV3D3 polymer layer for battery application”, (link), authored by the TUM professors, in collaboration with two teams of researchers from the Kiel University in Germany, describes a new type of gas sensor designed to become insensitive to moisture after being coated with a layer of ultra-thin and thermally stable hydrophobic polymer, PV3D3. This scientific paper is essentially contributing to solving a major problem: the effect of humidity on sensor performance, especially for application in modern Li-S-based battery systems.
The results of the research prove that the sensors, once coated with ultra-thin polymer film, can be operated at higher humidity, and the hydrophobic fluoride functionalization of the PV3D3 polymer layer proved to be exceptionally stable at high temperatures, even up to 450oC. This facilitates the usage of sensors at temperatures of about 350oC, at which other hydrophobic polymer coatings would degrade. In addition, the authors note that it has been possible to adjust the selectivity of the sensitive metal oxide heterostructure from ethanol vapor to hydrogen gas by adding the PV3D3 layer on the sensor surface. These results are remarkably important, as reducing the influence of humidity on the response of gas sensors is necessary for almost all applications, especially those that include batteries. Experimentally demonstrated improved selectivity for hydrogen gas also allows for the detection of decomposition products in Li-S batteries. The sensor is also sensitive to various electrolyte vapors used for Li-S battery systems, thus providing new possibilities for innovative battery design, as well as for various other applications. This manufacturing approach allows for easier integration into large-scale industrial production lines.
This research, reported and appreciated internationally, was partially supported by the G5634 SPS Project “Advanced Electro-Optical Chemical Sensors” AMOXES and TUM.
In this context, the authors mentioned several fundamental aspects regarding the conducted research.
Dr. Nicolai ABABII, TUM lecturer:
– The ever-growing field of batteries creates a great need for the development of gas sensors for the early detection of hazards, such as: the production of H2 during the decomposition of electrolytes used in batteries, the vaporization of these electrolytes, or the enormous generation of heat and the appearance of particulate emissions that can later reach Thermal Runway and the complete destruction of the system.
Dr. Nicolae MAGARIU, assist. prof., FCIM within TUM:
– In addition to the applications within Li-S battery systems, the results registered in this paper can also be used in the early detection of ethanol and hydrogen, these volatile compounds being easily flammable and explosive gases, which could be used as green energy sources in the future in order to avoid environmental pollution.
The TUM professors work within the Department of Microelectronics and Biomedical Engineering of the Faculty of Computers, Informatics and Microelectronics (FCIM), where they transfer the knowledge and experience gained in such international collaborations to the young scholars of FCIM – Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctorate students.
The Department of Microelectronics and Biomedical Engineering of the Faculty of Computers, Informatics and Microelectronics provides education for three study programs: Applied Electronics, Microelectronics and Nanotechnology and Biomedical Engineering (Bachelor and Master) and 5 Doctorate programs. The young people who are curious to develop or research such devices can make it happen at the Center for Nanotechnologies and Nanosensors, the MIB Department within TUM.
Online references:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468519421002226?dgcid=coauthor
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtchem.2021.100642
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsami.1c18679
http://mib.utm.md/
https://fcim.utm.md/departamentele-fcim/departamentul-mib/
[av_gallery ids=’99110′ style=’big_thumb lightbox_gallery’ preview_size=’2048×2048′ crop_big_preview_thumbnail=’avia-gallery-big-crop-thumb’ thumb_size=’portfolio’ columns=’5′ imagelink=’lightbox’ link_dest=” lightbox_text=’caption’ lazyload=’avia_lazyload’ img_scrset=” html_lazy_loading=’disabled’ alb_description=” id=” custom_class=” template_class=” av_uid=’av-k6kpw’ sc_version=’1.0′ admin_preview_bg=”]
[av_gallery ids=’99111′ style=’big_thumb lightbox_gallery’ preview_size=’2048×2048′ crop_big_preview_thumbnail=’avia-gallery-big-crop-thumb’ thumb_size=’portfolio’ columns=’5′ imagelink=’lightbox’ link_dest=” lightbox_text=’caption’ lazyload=’avia_lazyload’ img_scrset=” html_lazy_loading=’disabled’ alb_description=” id=” custom_class=” template_class=” av_uid=’av-12utx44′ sc_version=’1.0′ admin_preview_bg=”]
[av_gallery ids=’99112′ style=’big_thumb lightbox_gallery’ preview_size=’2048×2048′ crop_big_preview_thumbnail=’avia-gallery-big-crop-thumb’ thumb_size=’portfolio’ columns=’5′ imagelink=’lightbox’ link_dest=” lightbox_text=’caption’ lazyload=’avia_lazyload’ img_scrset=” html_lazy_loading=’disabled’ alb_description=” id=” custom_class=” template_class=” av_uid=’av-m0bn5w’ sc_version=’1.0′ admin_preview_bg=”]
