MOBILITY ENGINEERING Produced by SAE Media Group
MOBILITY ENGINEERING
Magazines
Magazine cover

Current Issue

Archives

Magazine cover

Current Issue

Archives

Magazine cover

Current Issue

Archives

Magazine cover

Current Issue

Archives

Multifunctional Core-Shell and Nano-Channel Design for Nano-Sized Thermosensor

Effective temperature sensing is important for many military-related activities, including environmental sensing in a highly explosive event.

This work focused on developing novel nano-sized thermal sensors based on a multifunctional core/shell and nano-channel design that can be used to measure temperature and retaining thermal history of the biological agents experienced during the testing of agent-defeat weapons.

A 3D thermal model of the core shell nanostructure as a thermal sensor. The duration is within 100 ms to 1 second, and temperature ranges from 400 to 800 °C.

Au-based nanostructure in thin film geometry was explored as potential nano-sized dynamic thermal sensors. The Au ultrathin films with different thicknesses varying from 1 to 5 nm were prepared by thermal vaporation on silica substrates, and the film morphology was characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Thermal shock of Au ultrathin films was performed using a tube furnace within the temperature range from 200 to 700 °C, and the duration varies from 3 to 180 seconds. The morphological change of the Au film upon thermal treatment was characterized using AFM, SEM, and x-ray diffraction (XRD), and their optical responses (localized surface plasmon absorption and surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy) were investigated by UV-vis-IR photospectrometer and Raman spectroscopy.

The effects of thickness on the temperature sensitivity were investigated, which allows the design of various nano-sized dynamic sensors for desired temperature regimes. Based on the systematic structural investigation and optical characterization, the correlation among the absorption band, FWHM, and the morphological characteristics such as particle size, shape, interparticle spacing, and fraction of open dewetting area was established. A simplified model was derived to correlate the change of the absorption band with the temperature and duration, which enable prediction of the thermal profile sensor materials experienced during a thermal event. The thermal history model was also experimentally validated.

Significant advancement was achieved in developing a core/shell nanostructure as ultrafast dynamic nano-thermometers with extreme sensitivity and fast response to rapid temperature variation. Particularly, silica/Au core shell nanostructures with well controlled surface morphologies were synthesized, and the surface plasmon resonance properties upon thermal shock were investigated in order to explore their potential as ultrafast dynamic thermometers. The correlation between different synthesis conditions and the surface plasma resonance (SPR) was identified, and reproducibility of materials synthesis was evaluated.

Thermal shock experiments were performed within the time of 100 ms up to 2 seconds using a pyroprobe, and the properties variation of the SiO2/Au core shell nanostructures were investigated as a function of temperature and duration. The thermal history model was also developed based on the dynamics of the morphology changes as controlled by the thermaldewetting, and the potential of using SPR variation upon thermal shock as effective sensing mechanisms was evaluated. A 3D contour map was developed that enables establishment of the connection among the SPR peak shift, temperature, and duration of a thermal event. This systematic investigation leads to the development of an ex-situ, ultrafast, dynamic nano-thermometer based on silica/Au core shell nanostructures with extremely fast response below sub-second and even 100 ms, and sensitivity at a temperature of 300 °C.

A key issue for the potential application of the silica/Au core shell nanostructure for real detection is the reproducibility and sensitivity in a real environment. The scientific principle for temperature sensing for the core shell structure is based on the thermal dewetting-induced morphology and the associated optical properties variation. The debris of the detonation event may affect the sensitivity and applicability as sensor elements based on optical properties vary. To test this, systematic studies were conducted to investigate the interference and impact of heterogeneous phase or impurity with the sensor elements with the focus on the reproducibility of the absorption spectra. These results indicated that the optical properties won’t be affected by the second phase or impurity as it relates to the intrinsic electrical structure and electron field/nanostructure interaction. Therefore, the core shell does show potential when used as a sensor in a detonation event.

This work was done by Jie Lian of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Qingkai Yu of Texas State University for the Defense Threat Reduction Agency. DTRA-0004

Topics:
Data management Gasoline Historical reference Imaging and visualization Knock Microscopy On-board energy sources Optics Scale models Sensors Sensors and actuators Simulation and modeling Spectroscopy Technical review Thermal Sensors
This Brief includes a Technical Support Package (TSP).
Document cover
Multifunctional Core-Shell and Nanochannel Design for Nano-sized Thermosensor

(reference DTRA-0004) is currently available for download from the TSP library.

Don't have an account?

More From SAE Media Group

    Magazine cover
    Aerospace & Defense Technology Magazine

    This article first appeared in the April, 2016 issue of Aerospace & Defense Technology Magazine (Vol. 1 No. 2).

    Read more articles from this issue here.

    Read more articles from the archives here.

    Overview

    The document is a technical report from the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) titled "Multifunctional Core-Shell and Nano-channel Design for Nano-sized Thermo-sensor," authored by Jie Lian and Qingkai Yu from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. It was published in April 2015 and is approved for public release.

    The report focuses on the development of advanced nano-sized thermosensors, which are critical for various applications, including defense and environmental monitoring. The research emphasizes the design and synthesis of multifunctional core-shell nanostructures and nano-channels that enhance the performance of these sensors.

    Key highlights of the report include:

    1. Research Objectives: The primary goal is to create thermosensors with improved sensitivity and functionality by utilizing innovative nanostructure designs. The report outlines the significance of these sensors in detecting temperature changes at the nanoscale, which is essential for precise measurements in various fields.

    2. Methodology: The report details the synthesis processes for core-shell nanostructures, including silica/gold (SiO2/Au) core-shell structures and graphene-based materials. It discusses the characterization techniques used to analyze the thermal properties and performance of the developed nanostructures.

    3. Personnel Involvement: The project supported several graduate and postdoctoral researchers, including Mr. Hongtao Sun, whose work on silica/Au core-shell nanostructures forms the basis of his doctoral thesis. The involvement of these researchers highlights the educational impact of the project in training the next generation of scientists in defense-related applications.

    4. Publications and Findings: The report references a publication resulting from the research, showcasing the tailored degree of oxidation of graphene oxide and its implications for sensor technology. The findings indicate that the developed nanostructures can significantly enhance thermal transport properties, making them suitable for advanced sensor applications.

    5. Conclusion: The report concludes that the innovative designs of core-shell and nano-channel structures have the potential to revolutionize the field of nano-thermosensors, providing enhanced capabilities for temperature detection and measurement. The research contributes to the broader goal of developing advanced materials and technologies for defense applications.

    Overall, the document serves as a comprehensive overview of the research conducted under the DTRA project, emphasizing the importance of nanotechnology in enhancing sensor performance and its implications for future applications.

    Top Stories

    INSIDERRF & Microwave Electronics

    Feature Image FAA to Replace Aging Network of Ground-Based Radars

    PodcastsDefense

    Feature Image A New Additive Manufacturing Accelerator for the U.S. Navy in Guam

    NewsSoftware

    Feature Image Rewriting the Engineer’s Playbook: What OEMs Must Do to Spin the AI Flywheel

    Road ReadyPower

    Feature Image 2026 Toyota RAV4 Review: All Hybrid, All the Time

    INSIDERDefense

    Feature Image F-22 Pilot Controls Drone With Tablet

    INSIDERRF & Microwave Electronics

    Feature Image L3Harris Starts Low Rate Production Of New F-16 Viper Shield

    Webcasts