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 The Photonic Sensing
Materials IRG integrates efforts in chemistry, physics, and engineering
to synthesize and study photonic materials for automotive and other
diagnostic sensing applications. One objective is the synthesis and
characterization of new materials that enable the selective detection
of analytes via optical processes. A major research area is the design
of materials for use in developing new molecular-based diagnostic techniques
for the characterization and measurement of turbulent flow and mixing
processes. These techniques include Molecular Tagging Velocimetry and
methods for measuring temperature and mixing characteristics. The new
schemes are exploited in studies of mixing processes within internal
combustion engines, and in liquid phase flows. Power plant and automotive
exhaust applications require gas sensors that can operate in chemically
reactive high temperature environments. The IRG is investigating electronic
processes at wide bandgap semiconductor interfaces that enable chemical
sensing.
The Electronic Sensing Materials IRG employs a combination of
transduction methods for transforming physical and chemical information
into electrical signals. Research activities in physics, chemistry,
electrical engineering and materials science are integrated to understand
and develop materials with sensing functionality. Magnetic sensors,
with perpendicular current flow (CPP), are being studied to ascertain
the microscopic mechanisms of giant magnetoresistance, to develop improved
magnetic sensor materials, and to understand the effects of imposing
sub-micrometer dimensions, including the physics underlying current-driven
excitations. New methods for grafting polymers from surfaces are being
developed to create interfaces with unique molecular sensing applications
and separations properties. Diamond wide-bandgap materials are being
studied for sensor applications under extreme, high-temperature conditions,
utilizing chemical vapor deposition for large-area heteroepitaxial growth
and producing nanocrystalline forms for surface acoustic wave devices.
All of these programs take advantage of advanced synthesis and growth,
microfabrication capabilities, and the Keck Microfabrication Shared
Facility for processing and for materials characterization.
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