Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	GR/J35764/01
Title:	MODIFIED POLY (AMINO ACIDS) FOR INTEGRATED CHEMICAL SENSORS
Principal Investigator:	Grimshaw, Dr J
Other Investigators:	Armstrong, Dr B M Gamble, Professor H
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department:	Chemistry
Organisation:	Queen's University of Belfast
Scheme:	Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts:	01 April 1994	Ends:	31 December 1996	Value (£):	156,706
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Materials Processing
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
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Panel History:
Summary on Grant Application Form
The design of chemo-capacitor and chemo-resistor structures on silicon substrate based on interdigitated silicon structures coated with organic polymers. The objective of these structures is to achieve sensing devices for trace components of the atmosphere that will interact with the metal centre and so influence the signal generated by the silicon structures.Progress:Initial work has concentrated on the design of structures on oxidised silicon substrates. A mask set has been designed produced and used in house to pattern heavily n+ doped poly silicon using reactive ion etching to give fingers with vertical side walls. A series of devices with dimensions in the range 10 microns down to 1 micron have been prepared. A further development of this technology incorporates a thin metal layer self aligned to the top of the device. These structures will function as capacitors.Chemo-resistors will be manufactured with thin metallic layers. An evaporation system has been set up to permit sequential deposition of titanium, followed by gold. Titanium is required as an adhesive layer between the gold and the substrate. We will proceed to manufacture devices by etching from these layered substrates. A measurement chamber has been set up to characterise the necessity of devices to trace contaminants in a gaseous atmosphere. Initially we intend to characterise the sensitivity of the devices to water vapour. Next, the sensitivity to hydro carbon vapour will be examined. Polymers have been prepared of poly (g-ethyl glutamate) and spraying onto a surface in volatile hexafluoroisopropanol is achieved. We are about to use this polymer to prepare a chemo-capacitor and to determine how the capacity of the system varies with atmospheric humidity. We expect the system to function as a pygrometer. Further modification of polymer side chains so as to introduce imidazole groups allows the attachment of iron (III) porphyrins by coordination. This polymer is available for coating of devices. We have also made progress in the synthesis of a porphyrin which can be covalently attached to the polymer side chain. It is intended to test these iron porphyrin containing polymers in the capacitor and resistor devices.
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Organisation Website:	http://www.qub.ac.uk