Correlation of Chemisorption and Electronic Effects for Metal Oxide Interfaces: Transducing Principles for Temperature Programmed Gas Microsensors

The spectrum of chemical monitoring problems faced by the Department of Energy at its hazardous waste sites is formidable. It is likely that a variety of existing types of instrumentation will be applied in the years ahead, with varying degrees of practicality and success. A tremendous impact could be realized, however, if instrumental methods could be supplemented by a low-cost, reliable sensing technology for continuous monitoring of a range of species, including, for example, volatile organics, chlorinated hydrocarbons, ammonia, and hydrogen. To meed the diverse gas and vapor monitoring needs at ODE hazardous waste sites, the sensing system must offer, inherently, and adaptability to match the wide variety of analytes and environmental conditions that well be encountered (in tank vapor spaces, and at locations with contaminated soil or groundwater.) The purpose of this project was to investigate scientific and technical concepts that could enable a MEMS-based chemical sensing technology (developed in its foundational form at NIST during early and mid 1990's) to be made tunable for multiple target analytes in differing types of backgrounds relevant to DOE waste storage and remediatio