Organic Multi-Sensor Using Ionic Electrolyte and Polymer Composite
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic nose devices require additional heating devices for effective operation, leading to increased volume, reduced energy efficiency, and higher manufacturing costs, and are vulnerable to polar solvents and oxygen due to the use of carbon-based organic material semiconductors with low charge and ion mobility.
Innovation Solution
An organic electronic multi-sensor is developed using a composite layer formed by fusing an ionic electrolyte with an organic semiconductor polymer, where the ionic electrolyte is dissolved in a non-polar solvent and doped with the polymer, allowing for gas detection, light sensing, and temperature conversion without the need for a gate electrode or additional heating, using a flexible substrate like polyethylene terephthalate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If an additional heating device is used to amplify the resistance reaction of metal oxide semiconductor, then the detection sensitivity is improved, but the device volume increases, energy consumption efficiency decreases, and manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the additional heating device (Joule heater) from the electronic nose system by using metal oxide semiconductor materials that inherently operate effectively at room temperature, thereby eliminating the source of increased device volume and energy consumption while maintaining detection sensitivity through material selection rather than thermal amplification
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating temperature parameter from elevated temperatures (requiring heating devices) to room temperature by selecting metal oxide semiconductor materials with appropriate band gaps (2.5 eV or more) that enable effective gas detection without thermal amplification, thus resolving the contradiction between detection sensitivity and device complexity
2Temperature
If carbon-based organic material semiconductor is used, then the device can operate at room temperature, but the charge mobility and ion mobility are low and the material is vulnerable to polar solvent such as moisture or oxygen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs metal oxide semiconductor materials (such as TiO2, ZnO, SnO2, WO3, CrO3) that combine the advantages of room temperature operation with high charge mobility and inherent stability against polar solvents like moisture and oxygen, thereby achieving both low operating temperature and high material reliability simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material composition parameter from carbon-based organic materials to metal oxide semiconductors with band gaps of 2.5 eV or more, which fundamentally alters the material properties to achieve room temperature operation while simultaneously improving charge mobility and resistance to polar solvents
3Measurement precision
If metal oxide semiconductor is used for gas detection, then the detection accuracy is improved, but the device volume increases due to the required additional heating device
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the additional heating device from the system by selecting metal oxide semiconductor materials that provide accurate gas detection at room temperature, thereby maintaining high detection accuracy while reducing device volume by eliminating unnecessary thermal management components
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
The multi-sensor operates at room temperature with low voltage, enhances detection characteristics, reduces production costs, and distinguishes between polar and non-polar volatile organic compounds, ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared wavelengths, and temperature variations, while maintaining mechanical flexibility and low power consumption.
Implementation Method 1
the ionic electrolyte may be doped with the organic semiconductor polymer by electrostatic attraction of the ionic electrolyte
Implementation Method 2
the composite layer may adsorb or desorb gas molecules according to a chemical signal
Implementation Method 3
detect light per wavelength according to an optical signal
Implementation Method 4
detect an environmental change by converting a temperature into an electrical signal according to a thermal signal
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are: an organic electronic multi-sensor wherein an ionic electrolyte and an organic semiconductor polymer are fused to form a double layer and have a mesh shape; and a method for producing same. The organic electronic multi-sensor provides different, complementary ion and charge transfer pathways depending on the volume ratio of the ionic electrolyte and thus is capable of distinguishing the electrical resistance properties of volatile organic compounds having a wide range of polarities. In addition, the organic electronic multi-sensor senses light of respective wavelengths on the basis of optical signals, converts temperatures to electrical signals according to thermal signals, and thus can sense each environment change.