REU/RET Projects

Gustavo Alverio
University: University of Central Florida
Mentor in UCF: Dr. Joe Cho - Mechanical, Materials and Aerospace Engineering

A Nanoparticle-based Hydrogen Microsensor

Hydrogen microsensors have long been researched in engineering and scientific research. Conventional hydrogen microsensors require high temperature operation resulting in undesirable environments. The novel approach is to incorporate nanotechnology and micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) technology to produce a hydrogen microsensor that will properly function at room temperature. The MEMS type hydrogen sensor is coated with nanomaterial consisting of nanostructured In2O3 and SnO2. It is believed that the nanomaterial will increase the sensitivity of the microsensor needed for room temperature. Tests revealed that the resistance dropped about 5 order of magnitudes, or about 99.9985% once hydrogen is detected. Also cyclic-based tests determined that the microsensor can re-stabilize after hydrogen detection to its original state.