The teachers of the Department of Microelectronics and Biomedical Engineering of the UTM Faculty of Computers, Informatics and Microelectronics published their new work, titled “Development of 2-in-1 Sensors for the Safety Assessment of Lithium-Ion Batteries via Early Detection of the Vapors Produced by the Electrolyte Solvents”, in the prestigious scientific journal ACS Applied Material and Interfaces, with impact factor 10,383.
The team, made up of Prof. Oleg Lupan, Dr. habil.; Univ. Lect. Nicolae Magariu, PhD(c); Univ. Lect. Nicolai Ababii, PhD, in collaboration with Prof. Rainer Adelung, Dr. habil. from Germany, and Prof. Nora H. de Leeuw, Dr. habil. from the Netherlands, describe the development of new sensors based on CuO/Cu2O and TiO2/CuO/Cu2O heterostructures.
The paper focuses on presenting the usage of these sensors based on the two-in-one concept. At low temperatures, the sensors are used as temperature sensors, and at temperatures higher than 200oC – as sensors that allow the detection of vapors from the composition of electric batteries, which are widely used today, from bicycles to electric cars.
The authors mention that the use of CuO/Cu2O based heterostructures allows the detection of LiPF6 vapors, which are hazardous even at room temperature, and the use of TiO2/CuO/Cu2O heterostructures allows the detection of C4H10O2 vapors, even at the concentration of less than 1 ppm.
Univ. Lect. Nicolae Magariu, PhD(c), UTM:
– The research carried out together with our colleagues from prestigious universities in Germany, Great Britain, and the Netherlands allowed the accumulation of new knowledge about the development of new structures, heterostructures and sensors that can be used for the detection of volatile compounds in the composition of electric batteries, because the early detection of electrolyte leaks will allow the increase of battery safety in the fields where they are used and, thus, potentially save human lives.
Univ. Lect. Nicolai Ababii, PhD, UTM:
– The results presented in the paper clearly indicate that it is possible to obtain new sensors for the detection of low concentrations (below 1 ppm) of vapors from the composition of electric batteries through simple and cost-effective elaboration methods, which makes it safer to use them and easier to protect them against thermal runaway and explosions. Obviously, electric cars will be much more secure after the implementation of this invention, to which UTM contributed.
The authors are grateful to the ANCD Grant no. 20.80009.5007.09 from the Technical University of Moldova. Project director: Prof. Viorel BOSTAN, Dr. habil., rector of UTM.
The UTM teachers that participated in the development of this paper work at the Department of Microelectronics and Biomedical Engineering within the UTM Faculty Computers, Informatics and Microelectronic, transferring the knowledge and experience acquired within such international collaborations to UTM Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral students.
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://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsami.3c03564
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/acsami.3c03564
