A microscale chemical sensor platform for environmental monitoring

Chemical sensor;Gas sensor;Resonator;Microresonator;Gravimetry;Volatile organic compounds;MEMS;Silicon;Q-factor;Capacitive sensor;Multisensor;PIB;Toluene;Polymer;In-plane;High Q

Truax, Stuart ; Electrical and Computer Engineering

University:Georgia Institute of Technology

Department:Electrical and Computer Engineering

关键词: Chemical sensor;    Gas sensor;    Resonator;    Microresonator;    Gravimetry;    Volatile organic compounds;    MEMS;    Silicon;    Q-factor;    Capacitive sensor;    Multisensor;    PIB;    Toluene;    Polymer;    In-plane;    High Q;   

Others  :  https://smartech.gatech.edu/bitstream/1853/45780/1/truax_stuart_b_201112_phd.pdf

美国|英语

来源: SMARTech Repository

【 摘 要 】

The objective of this research is to apply micromachined silicon-based resonant gravimetric sensors to the detection of gas-phase volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This is done in two primary tasks: 1) the optimization and application of silicon disk resonators to the detection of gas-phase VOCs, and 2) the development and application of a novel gravimetric-capacitive multisensor platform for the detection of gas-phase VOCs. In the rst task, the design and fabrication of a silicon-based disk resonator structure utilizing an in-plane resonance mode is undertaken. The resonance characteristics of the disk resonator are characterized and optimized. The optimized characteristics include the resonator Q-factor as a function of geometric parameters, and the dynamic displacement of the in-plane resonance mode. The Q-factors of the disk resonators range from 2600 to 4360 at atmosphere for disk silicon thicknesses from 7 µm to 18 µm, respectively. The resonance frequency of the in-plane resonance mode ranges from 260 kHz up to 750 kHz. The disk resonators are applied to the sensing of gas-phase VOCs using (poly)isobutylene as a sensitive layer. Limits of detection for benzene, toluene and m-xylene vapors of 5.3 ppm, 1.2 ppm, and 0.6 ppm are respectively obtained. Finally, models for the limits of detection and chemical sensitivity of the resonator structures are developed for the case of the polymer layers used. In the second task, a silicon-based resonator is combined with a capacitive structure to produce a multisensor structure for the sensing of gas-phase VOCs. Fabrication of the multisensor structure is undertaken, and the sensor is theoretically modeled. The baseline capacitance of the capacitor component of the multisensor is estimated to be 170 fF. Finally, initial VOC detection results for the capacitive aspect of the sensor are obtained.