Date of Award

11-2016

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Electrical Engineering (MSEE)

Department

Electrical Engineering

First Advisor

Dr. Falah Awwad

Second Advisor

Dr. SalehT. Mahmoud

Third Advisor

Dr. Mousa Hussein

Abstract

Lower power consumption and higher performance are compelling demands in the electronic systems motivating the search for new materials, which are capable of fulfilling these demands. Recently, nanomaterial-based sensor technology has drawn considerable attention towards the development of sensing applications such as H2S gas sensors. Development of H2S gas sensors is crucial due to its extreme toxicity and damaging effects on both health and environment. This thesis aims to develop H2S gas sensors with enhanced sensitivity, flexibility, lower operating temperature, and high selectivity.

The proposed sensors present a contribution to the field of nano-electronics. They are designed based on the integration of nanotechnology and conducting polymer technology. These sensors are consisting of oxide semiconducting nanomaterials (WO3, ZnFe2O4 and CuFe2O4 nanoparticles) and a newly developed organic polymer with engineered conductivity ((poly (vinyl alcohol; PVA)-glycerol). The doped solutions are casted to form flexible membranes, which are characterized and tested to investigate their gas-sensing performance. The sensing method of these membranes is only a measure of resistance/conductance change denoting that the signal conditioning circuitry of such sensors is relatively simple.

The results showed very good sensitivity and selectivity towards H2S gas as well as excellent reproducibility and long-term stability; these are very important properties for a reliable sensor. Another interesting result of this study was the low operating temperature of the sensors, as they show noticeable responses at low temperatures in the range of 20°C - 40°C. The lower operating temperature means lower power consumption, which is an ultimate goal in the electronic applications

Industry. The results reveal reasonably fast responses, with minimum average response times in the range of 19 - 22 s. This study encloses novel results since it is the first work, to the best of our knowledge, to incorporate WO3, ZnFe2O4 and CuFe2O4 nanoparticles with a conductivity-controlled organic polymer for H2S sensing applications.

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