Plasmonics Based Harsh Environment Compatible Chemical Sensors

Michael A. Carpenter
Associate Professor
College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering University at Albany--?SUNY

Abstract:
The surface Plasmon resonance band of gold nanoparticles embedded in metal oxide films is used as an optical beacon for the detection of emission gases, CO, NO2 and H2, at temperatures ranging between 500 and 800oC. A summary of previous experiments detailing the sensing characteristics will be provided. A challenge for the detection of emission gases is not only high levels of sensitivity but the selective detection of the gas of interest. Recent work will be detailed which shows the implementation of sensing arrays for the detection of emission gases. Multiple sensing elements within the array are probed simultaneously and principal components analysis (PCA) is used to characterize the selective detection characteristics of the array. Variations in gold particle size and shape as well as the chemistry of the metal oxide matrix are being varied to produce sensing arrays with enhanced selective sensing properties.

Biography
Michael A. Carpenter received his BS in chemistry from the State University of New York College at Geneseo in 1991, and a PhD in physical chemistry from the University of Rochester, NY in 1996. He was a postdoctoral associate at Cornell University from 1996 to 1998, and was a postdoctoral associate at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory from 1998 to 2000. Since 2000, he has been a staff scientist at Albany Nanotech, in 2002 he was appointed as an assistant professor and in 2009 was appointed to associate professor in the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering at the University at Albany--?SUNY. He has research interests in developing nanotechnology enabled chemical sensors for environmental and industrial applications.  In particular he has active research programs on developing plasmonic based chemical sensors compatible with harsh environments, quantum dot based hydrocarbon sensors, Pd alloy hydrogen sensors and integration of nanotechnology enabled chemical and physical sensors into remote stand alone sensing systems. He has authored 45 scientific publications, is co--?editing a book to be published by Springer in 2012 entitled “Metal Oxide Nanomaterials for Chemical Sensors”, has given 52 scientific presentations at national and international conferences, and has two patents that have been granted.