Date of Award
10-11-2024
Publication Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.A.Sc.
Department
Kinesiology
Keywords
Electronic Nose;Hybrid Sensor Array;Selectivity;Virtual Sensor Array;Volatile Organic Compound
Supervisor
Arezoo Emadi
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Abstract
This study explores polymer-based hybrid sensor arrays (HSAs) using interdigitated electrode (IDE) geometries for volatile organic compound (VOC) detection. Achieving high selectivity and sensitivity in gas sensing remains challenging, particularly in complex environments. To address this, HSAs are proposed as a novel solution to enhance sensor performance. We review gas sensing concepts, focusing on transduction mechanisms and electrode geometries in existing electronic nose (e-Nose) systems, identifying limitations that justify introducing HSAs. Leveraging fringing field capacitance inherent in IDE geometries, we aim to improve both sensitivity and selectivity in VOC detection. IDE-based sensors are designed and fabricated using the PolyMUMPs microfabrication process, enabling precise and reproducible structures. Sensors are functionalized with polymer materials selected for specific VOC interactions, and controlled deposition techniques ensure uniform coatings. An experimental setup exposes sensors to various VOCs under controlled conditions. Traditional multi-sensor arrays (MSAs) combining responses from PMMA and PVP sensors achieve an 82% prediction rate in analyte identification. In contrast, virtual sensor arrays (VSAs) improve performance by leveraging frequency dependence to increase data dimensionality; the PMMA-VSA predicts analytes with 100% prediction rate, while the PVP-VSA achieves 98%. The HSA configuration combines responses from both PMMA and PVP VSAs, further enhancing selectivity. The HSA consistently achieves a 100% prediction rate for both analyte identification and concentration levels, surpassing MSA and VSA performance. These findings demonstrate that HSAs and VSAs, particularly when incorporating advanced IDE geometries, significantly enhance selectivity and sensitivity compared to traditional MSAs. This research highlights the potential of polymer-based HSAs and VSAs to advance e-Nose technology by providing more accurate and reliable VOC detection across various applications.
Recommended Citation
Antony Raj, Gian Carlo, "Polymer-based Hybrid Sensor Array Leveraging Fringing Field Capacitance for VOC Detection" (2024). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 9562.
https://scholar.uwindsor.ca/etd/9562