INVOGAS
INfluence and stabilisation of oxygen Vacancies in nanostructured metaL Oxides for chemoresistive GAS sensing applications
Project description
Nowadays, the detection of target gases has become of fundamental importance. The multiple applications in which increasingly sensitive, selective and low-power consumption gas sensors are required have led to a considerable increase in investment in this area in the last decade [1]. Among the various types of gas sensors, chemoresistive ones represent an interesting alternative, given their low cost, high sensitivity and robustness [2].
This type of sensor is based on the variation in electrical conductivity that some semiconductors show when exposed to gases present in the environment. The most used semiconductors are thermo-activated metal oxides (MOX). This type of device has also shown several limitations that have hindered its diffusion, including low selectivity, reproducibility of response and high-power consumption. Recent studies have shown a correlation between the chemical-physical properties of these MOX and the possibility of producing them with controlled oxygen vacancies resulting in stoichiometric defects, modifying their stability, chemical reactivity and electrical conductance [3].
The aim of this project is to investigate the effects of oxygen vacancies on the chemoresistive properties of MOX, with the aim of improving the sensing performance of these materials.
[1] https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/gas-sensors-market
[2] https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9040/3/1/1
[3] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0925400519310445