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Introduction
Advances in environmental research will increasingly take advantage
of new nanomaterials-based sensing technologies for portable,
ultra-sensitive systems for real-time, direct analysis. The
extremely high surface-to-volume ratio of nanowires and their
synthesis in a myriad of chemical forms (ceramic and polymeric) lend
themselves to detection of chemical agents (e.g., pesticides),
microorganisms (e,g., E.coli, Giardia), and mineral compounds; the
key is to modify interfacial chemistries to achieve selectivity for
a specific application. This project will move Idaho’s sensor development
efforts beyond the proof-of-principle stage into the domain of
feasible sensor array development, and will, when integrated with
the previously described research, provide insight into research
questions at multiple scales.
Research Plan
The research goal of the aqueous nanosensor project is to design,
construct, and test nanowire-based sensor devices and integrated
arrays for the detection of chemical solutes and biological
particulates within water-based mixtures. This team will collaborate
with researchers across the state to integrate monitoring requirements into
sensor designs; their efforts will address the following questions:
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What are the best nanowire materials, geometries, and assembly
configurations for ultra-high sensitivity and quick response
time to the aqueous environment?
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What is the nanowire electrical behavior in aqueous media and
the electrical contact physics between nanowire material and
metal/metal oxide leads?
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