Nanophase Metal Oxides for Electroceramic Sensor

MANY OF THE COMMERCIAL SENSORS IN USE (OR UNDER DEVELOPMENT) ARE BASED IN METAL-OXIDE CERAMIC MATERIALS. METAL-OXIDES OFFER SPECIAL ADVANTAGES BECAUSE OF THEIR CHEMICAL AND THERMAL STABILITY, FAST RESPONSE TIMES, AND SENSITIVITY TO ELECTROCHEMICAL CHANGES. THERE ARE REPORTED CASES THAT SHOW ADSORPTION OF WATER IN METAL OXIDES OFTEN ENHANCING BOTH THE SURFACE CONDUCTIVITY AND DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES OF THE MATERIAL. IT HAS BECOME POSSIBLE IN RECENT YEARS TO ENGINEER BULK METAL-OXIDE CERAMICS VIA THE FORMATION AND ASSEMBLY OF GAS-PHASE CONDENSED (GPC) CLUSTERS. ALTHOUGH THE SYNTHESIS OF THESE "NANOPHASE" METAL-OXIDES IS FAIRLY NEW, NANOPHASE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION (NTC) SEES A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE USE OF THESE MATERIALS IN IMPROVED SENSORS AND NON-LINEAR ELECTRONIC DEVICES. NTC IS THE LEADING U.S. COMMERCIAL PRODUCER OF GPC NANOPHASE CERAMICS. IN THE PROPOSED PHASE I WORK, THE PROPERTIES THAT CAN BE OBTAINED WITH A NANOPHASE MATERIALS FOR SPECIFIC ELECTRONIC SENSOR DEVICE APPLICATIONS WILL BE MADE IN PHASE II.