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EPSRC Reference: GR/N35182/01
Title: A SCANNING PROBE MICROSCOPY STUDY OF WORKING SEMICONDUCTOR GAS SENSORS BASED ON SN02
Principal Investigator: Wilks, Professor S
Other Investigators:
Coles, Dr G
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
City Technology Ltd Omicron Group
Department: Electrical & Electronic Engineering
Organisation: Swansea University
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 01 October 2000 Ends: 30 September 2003 Value (£): 200,184
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Materials Characterisation
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Manufacturing Electronics
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
This project considers the fundamental issues associated with the use of semiconductor gas sensors as viable commercial devices. For example, problems related to humidity dependence and the lack of knowledge pertaining to the gas sensing mechanism, hinder the successful use of semiconductor gas sensors. The current status of research has reached a plateau due to the limitations of the experimental techniques available to study these crucial issues. The operation of the gas sensor is determined by the interaction of target gases with the surface of the device, producing local changes in surface conductivity. Thus it is vital that the electrical properties of the device can be probed on a level comparable to the surface morphology (nano), which is known to dictate the sensor characteristics. Furthermore, it is imperative to use real devices and monitor the changes in surface conductivity under controllable gas/humidity environments. This can only be achieved using state of the art surface science techniques, simultaneous STM/STS, to correlate the structural and electronic properties in the nano scale. It is these issues that this programme seeks to resolve by combining the STM experience of the semiconductor interface group with the expertise of the gas sensor group.
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Organisation Website: http://www.swan.ac.uk