Project name: Sensors based on tungsten oxides cluster-assembled structures obtained by laser and plasma methods for nitrogen oxides detection

Contract no. 100 / 2012-01-12

Project code: PN-II-RU-PD-2011-3-0115

PN II Program Name: Human Resources

Subprogram: Post-doctoral research project

Contracting authority: Executive Agency for Higher Education, Research, Development and Innovation Funding

Project director: Mihaela FILIPESCU

Contract value: 288,103 lei

Contract duration: 23 luni

Coordinator: National Institute for Lasers, Plasma, and Radiation Physics

Project summary:
Nowadays, due to the industrial development, the environment’s pollution became a serious issue. Air pollution represents a major problem for the ecosystem due to the release of chemicals and particulates into the atmosphere. Tungsten oxides are a class of versatile materials used in gas sensors (O3, H2, H2S, Cl2), photo-catalysis, window for solar cells, electronic information displays and color memory devices etc. In particular, tungsten oxide showed superior sensitivity and selectivity in detecting NO2 gas. The project here presented proposes the use of alternative technologies with laser and plasma, namely Radio-Frequency plasma beam assisted pulsed laser deposition, for the obtainment of nanostructured tungsten oxides with high sensitivity to toxic gases. The material properties will be investigated and sensor tests will be carried out. This research aims to develop a reliable method to grow WOx as cluster assembled films with high specific area and controlled dimension size, for applications in toxic gases (nitrogen oxide) detection in order to combat air pollution.

Project objectives:

The *general objective* of this project is to synthesize WOx nanostructures (clusters assembled, nanostructured thin films) using lasers and plasma methods, for applications in toxic gases (nitrogen oxide) detection in order to combat air pollution.


First stage - 31.12.2012 (click for the scientific report)

Dissemination
1) article:
M. Filipescu, V. Ion, D. Colceag, P. M. Ossi, M. Dinescu, Growth and characterizations of nanostructured tungsten oxides, Romanian Reports in Physics, Vol. 64, Supplement, P. 1213–1225, 2012
2) poster: M. Filipescu, D. Colceag, V. Ion, R. Birjega, M. Dinescu, P. M. Ossi, Growth and characterizations of nanostructured tungsten oxides obtained by laser ablation, Conferinta ICPEPA-8, Rochester – SUA, 12-17 August 2012

Second stage - 13.12.2013 (click for the scientific report)

Dissemination
1) poster: M. Filipescu, R. Birjega, M.D. Dumitru, P. M. Ossi, M. Dinescu, Structural and morphological evolution of nanostructured tungsten oxide grown by radio-frequency discharge assisted laser ablation, EMRS Conference, Strasbourg - France, 27-31 May 2013
2) article: M. Filipescu, V. Ion, S. Somacescu, B. Mitu, M. Dinescu, Investigation of Ta2O5 and TaSixOy thin films obtained by radio frequency plasma assisted laser ablation for gate dielectric applications, Applied Surface Science 276 (2013) pp. 691-696
3) oral presentation: V. Ion, M. Filipescu and M. Dinescu, Optical properties of tungsten oxide thin films obtained by pulsed laser deposition, 20-24 May 2013 Bran, Romania
4) oral presentation: M. Dumitru, M. Filipescu, R. Birjega and M. Dinescu, X-Ray diffraction studies on tungsten oxide thin films obtained by pulsed laser deposition, 20-24 May 2013 Bran, Romania

5) poster: M. Filipescu, V. Ion, R. Birjega, M.D. Dumitru, M. Dinescu, Growth of nanostructured tungsten oxide thin films by radio-frequency plasma assisted laser ablation,  16th CPPA International Conference, Bucharest -- Romania, 20-25 June 2013
6) poster: M. Filipescu, A. Matei, V. Ion, F. Stokker-Cheregi, P. M. Ossi, M. Dinescu, Thin Films of Tungsten Oxide Nanoparticles Embedded in Polyaniline Matrix by MAPLE Technique for Sensors Application,
COLA International Conference, Ischia-Italy, 6-11 October 2013