Surface Adsorption of Nanomaterials in Applications for Gas Sensor and Catalyst

Recently environmental and energy issues have attracted increasing attention worldwide. Scientists have focused their R&D interests in saving energy and reducing carbon dioxide generation. The grand project plans to integrate R&D power from various research fields concerning these issues. Thus breakthrough in the field of gas sensor and catalyst can be achieved. This integrated project plans to combine the researchers in respective material and chemical fields, five subprojects are included. Subprojects 1 to 3 synthesize nanosize cerium, tungsten, and zinc oxides, respectively. Their sensing behaviors for different gases are also investigated. Subproject 4 synthesizes various templates, disperses particles and inject-prints the dispersions to integrate the sensor system. Subproject 5 develops the noble metal catalysts to reduce the toxic gas emissions. The syntheses, modifications and applications of nanomaterials for the sensors and catalysts are integrated to elevate the research energy in gas sensor and catalyst. During the first year, subprojects 1 to 3 will collaborate each other to prepare different nanosize oxides using various processes. Subproject 1 prepares nanosize ceria by spray pyrolysis and precipitation processes. Subproject 2 prepares nanosize tungsten oxide by gas condensation and sol-gel processes. Subproject 3 prepares nanosize zinc oxide films by sol-gel and chemical deposition processes. Subproject 4 develops polymer-type dispersant and nanosize templates. Subproject 5 deposits the noble metal onto supporters to investigate the catalytic behaviors. Modification of nanosize ceria, tungsten oxide, and zinc oxide will be attempted during the second year with the assistance from subprojects 4 and 5. Sub-project 5 will synthesize binary noble-metal/support materials catalyst for reduction reactions. Cooperating the subproject 4, polymer nano-dispersion, inject-printing, and various templated growths are planning to be developed to investigate their related absorption/desorption behaviors and sensing sensitivities as a function of temperature. The third year, sub-projects 1 to 3 will extend the results in first two years to build up their best processing conditions and microstructures. Combining the nanodispersion, inject printing and catalyst coating techniques developed by subprojects 4 and 5, prototype sensor module will be manufactured and sensing performance of mixed gases will be evaluated. We expect to increase the research energy in sensors and catalysts by integrating the projects in three years and can be applied further to the environmental and energy related fields.