From Zero- to First-Order Gas Sensors: Anticipated and Unanticipated Advances

#Sensors #Gas #Multivariable #RF #Optical

Abstract:

Conventional gas sensors are designed as zero-order analytical instruments with a single-output response (e.g. resistance, current, light intensity). Under variable ambient conditions such sensors suffer from cross-sensitivity from interferent gases and from fluctuations (drift) of their response because single-output sensor designs mathematically do not allow gas-selectivity and/or drift correction. We break this status quo by developing a new generation of gas sensors, known as multivariable sensors with several independent responses. By our designs, these sensors are first-order analytical instruments. In this talk, we will show that individual multivariable gas sensors quantify several gases and reject interferences, which is mathematically not feasible using conventional sensor designs. Next, we will show that such multivariable gas sensors have the ability for self-correction for sensor drift. Our multivariable gas sensors operate in the radio-frequency (RF) and optical portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. We self-correct for the baseline drift by sensor operation at more than one frequency of wavelength. Our approach for the drift self-correction should allow implementations of gas sensors in diverse applications that cannot afford weekly, monthly, or quarterly periodic maintenance, typical of traditional analytical instruments.

6:30 – 6:50 PM Zoom Registration & Networking

6:50 – 7:00 PM Announcements & Polling

7:00 – 7:45 PM Invited Talk

7:45 – 8:00 PM Questions & Answers