2023 started with the excellent results of the researchers of the Department of Microelectronics and Biomedical Engineering of the UTM Faculty of Computers, Informatics and Microelectronics. The prestigious interdisciplinary journal Polymers – Open Access Scientific Journal (Impact Factor 4.967) published the work “Tuning the Selectivity of Metal Oxide Gas Sensors with Vapor Phase Deposited Ultrathin Polymer Thin Films” by Univ. Lect., PhD(c) Nicolae MAGARIU, Univ. Lect., Dr. Nicolai ABABII, and Univ. Assist., Master student Mihai BRÎNZĂ, under the supervision of Univ. Prof., Dr. habil. Oleg LUPAN, head of the Department of Microelectronics and Biomedical Engineering (https://fcim.utm.md/departamentele-fcim/departamentul-mib/), and scientist included in international top rankings (https://www.adscientificindex.com/scientist/oleg-lupan/3925121; https://exaly.com/rankings/author/journal-2/13153/).
The paper presents a simple approach to modifying and increasing the selectivity of gas sensing structures with an ultrathin polymer thin film. The obtained structures demonstrate a change in selectivity from ethanol vapor to 2-propanol vapor and an increase in selectivity compared to other vapors of volatile organic compounds. The study proposes possibilities for improving the properties of metal oxide gas sensors, which is very important in applications in fields such as medicine, security and food safety. In addition, the work is evidence of the effort of our researchers to manufacture new devices in the Republic of Moldova, at UTM, for usage in the different fields of economy.
The authors from UTM, together with the researchers from Kiel University in Germany, the teams of Prof., Dr. habil. Rainer ADELUNG and Prof., Dr. habil. Franz FAUPEL, obtained new structures for selective sensors for Volatile Organic Compounds (Ethanol, 2-Propanol, n-Butanol and Acetone) based on oxides such as: copper oxide, aluminum oxide/copper oxide heterostructures, and titanium dioxide, coated with a thin polymer film.
PhD(c) Nicolae MAGARIU, University Lecturer at UTM:
– Metal oxide gas sensors are developing very rapidly and extensively, due to their use in different fields, ranging from natural sciences to nanobiomedicine, space innovations, the oil and food industries and the automotive industry. The research carried out together with our German colleagues from Kiel University and from the Fraunhofer Institute for Silicon Technology, which deals with technologies for Microelectronics and Microsystems, allowed for the accumulation of new knowledge, experimental and theoretical results about the development of new sensors for the detection of volatile organic compounds that will provide for a more effective monitoring of these vapors, which can have negative effects on human health.
Dr. Nicolai ABABII, University Lecturer at UTM:
– The results presented in this paper indicate that obtaining selective sensors in certain volatile organic compounds is possible by combining metal oxides and nanometric layers of porous polymers, using new, simple and cost-effective methods.
Master student Mihai BRÎNZĂ, “Biomedical Engineering” study program:
– The main observation in our work is that structures coated with a polymer film undergo an increase in selectivity to 2-propanol vapors even at relatively low operating temperatures. I have managed to collect an enormous amount of experience while being involved in these researches at the MIB department of the UTM Center of Nanotechnologies and Nanosensors, in collaboration with prestigious universities in Germany. The research methods and obtained data will aid in the development of sensor structures, which will bring benefit in multiple areas, such as medicine, security and food safety.
The research, reported and appreciated at international level, was partially supported by the project 20.80009.5007.09, project director: Prof., Dr. habil. Viorel Bostan, UTM rector.
The UTM teachers work at the Department of Microelectronics and Biomedical Engineering within the UTM Faculty of Computers, Informatics and Microelectronics, disseminating the knowledge and experience obtained within various international collaborations to the Bachelor, Master and Doctoral students of the faculty.
The Department of Microelectronics and Biomedical Engineering at the Faculty of Computers, Informatics and Microelectronics ensures the education process within 3 study programs: Microelectronics and Nanotechnologies, Applied Electronics, Biomedical Engineering (Bachelor’s and Master’s) and within 5 Doctoral study programs. The young people interested in developing or researching such devices can fulfill their dream at the Center for Nanotechnologies and Nanosensors, at the MIB Department of UTM.
Online references
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/3/524
https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15030524
https://www.adscientificindex.com/scientist/oleg-lupan/3925121 ;; https://exaly.com/rankings/author/journal-2/13153/
https://www.isit.fraunhofer.de/en.html,
Prima zi
The UTM researchers collaborated with:
1 Center for Nanotechnology and Nanosensors, Department of Microelectronics and Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Computers, Informatics and Microelectronics, Technical University of Moldova, 168 Stefan cel Mare str., MD-2004, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
2 Chair for Multicomponent Materials, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Materials Science, Kiel University, Kaiserstr. 2, D-24143, Kiel, Germany
3 Functional Nanomaterials, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Materials Science, Kiel University, Kaiserstr. 2, D-24143, Kiel, Germany
4 Fraunhofer Institute for Silicon Technology (ISIT), Fraunhoferstraße 1, D-25524 Itzehoe, German.
