Development of gas sensors for hydrogen sulfide and ammonia based on low-bandgap and conducting polymers

• Grant number: 23/04442-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: November 20, 2023
• End date: November 19, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Condensed Matter Physics
• Principal Investigator: Clarissa de Almeida Olivati
• Grantee: Marcelo Soares Borro
• Supervisor: Nathalie Redon
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia (FCT). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Presidente Prudente. Presidente Prudente , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Institut Mines-Télécom Nord Europe, Douai (IMT Nord Europe), France
• Associated to the scholarship: 22/04424-9 - Nanostructured films and nanofibers of low bandgap semiconducting polymers for application in gas sensors, BP.DD

Abstract

This project intends a research internship abroad with the goal of developing gas sensors using the low-bandgap polymers (PCPDTDPP_C12 and PCPDTDPP_TEG) previously characterized in the research project in Brazil. These materials will be analyzed as gas sensors with different concentrations of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and ammonia (NH3), also considering the influence of humidity on the fabricated devices. In this way, a more complete analysis and characterization of devices such as gas sensors will be carried out, considering parameters that cannot be observed through the gas measurement setup currently running on the UNESP campus. In this work, the student will go to Douai, France, to carry out a research internship at the Institut Mines-Télécom Nord Europe (IMT Nord Europe), for a period of one year. In this project, the student will use the drop-casting technique to prepare the films of the low-bandgap polymers onto electrodes commonly used by the group of Dr. Caroline Duc at IMT Nord Europe and the devices will be tested with NH3 and H2S gases at different ppb concentrations. The candidate will also work with other conducting polymers suggested by the team in France. Moreover, during the BEPE period, it is expected that the student develops as a researcher and improves skills in English and French languages. (AU)