Conductive Nanowire Adsorbent for Low-Power Chemical Detection

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for analyzing chemical substances in gases face inefficiencies in desorption due to external heating, leading to heat loss and increased power consumption, which hampers the effective detection of adsorbed substances.

Innovation Solution

A chemical substance concentrator utilizing conductive nanowire adsorbents that generate Joule's heat for self-heating, eliminating the need for external heaters and enhancing thermal efficiency by directly using the generated heat for desorption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If external heating is used to desorb adsorbed chemical substances, then desorption can be achieved, but heat loss increases and power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat lossVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The heating function is merged with the adsorbent material itself by integrating conductive nanowires into the adsorbent structure. The adsorbent serves dual purposes: adsorbing chemical substances and generating heat through Joule heating for desorption, eliminating the need for separate external heating devices and reducing heat loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The adsorbent material performs self-heating through Joule heating when electrical current passes through the conductive nanowires embedded within it. This self-service mechanism generates heat directly at the adsorption site, eliminating heat transfer losses associated with external heating and reducing overall power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Loss of energy

If external heaters are used for desorption, then chemical substances can be introduced into detectors, but heating efficiency decreases due to heat diffusion into surroundings

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat lossVSAvoidheating efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The heating function is merged with the adsorbent material itself by integrating conductive nanowires into the adsorbent structure. The adsorbent serves dual purposes: adsorbing chemical substances and generating heat through Joule heating for desorption, eliminating the need for separate external heating devices and reducing heat loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Heat is generated locally within the adsorbent material where the chemical substances are adsorbed. The conductive nanowires are distributed throughout the adsorbent structure, creating localized heating zones that directly heat the adsorbed substances without allowing heat to diffuse into surrounding areas, thereby improving heating efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Use of energy by stationary object

If conventional external heating methods are used, then desorption is achieved, but the process consumes more power and is less efficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoiddesorption efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by stationary objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The adsorbent material performs self-heating through Joule heating when electrical current passes through the conductive nanowires embedded within it. This self-service mechanism generates heat directly at the adsorption site, eliminating heat transfer losses associated with external heating and reducing overall power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanical/thermal external heating system is replaced with an electrical heating mechanism embedded within the adsorbent. Electrical current passing through conductive nanowires generates heat directly through Joule heating, substituting the external thermal field with an internal electrical-to-thermal conversion system that is more efficient and controllable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach reduces power consumption, improves heating efficiency, and allows for efficient desorption of chemical substances with lower power usage, specifically achieving desorption with power equal to or less than 10 µW, while maintaining high concentration efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

utilizing conductive nanowire adsorbents that generate Joule's heat for self-heating

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule's heat: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

conductive nanowire adsorbents that generate Joule's heat

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 3

an organic substance in the gas is adsorbed onto an adsorbent

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Implementation Method 4

the trap is heated so that the adsorbed organic substance is introduced into a detector

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDesorption: Desorption

Data Source

PatentEP3351920B1Chemical substance concentrator and chemical substance detection device

Publication Date: 2023.11.01 PANASONIC HOLDINGS CORP

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AI summary

A chemical substance concentrator includes a flow passage (11) that allows a gaseous sample containing a chemical substance to flow through the flow passage, a first electrode (12) disposed on a first inner wall of the flow passage (11), a second electrode (13) being disposed on the first inner wall and apart from the first electrode (12), and a conductive adsorbent (14) contacting the first electrode (12), the second electrode (13), and the first inner wall.