Examination of silver-graphite lithographically printed resistive strain sensors

This paper reports the design and manufacture of three differing types of resistive strain sensitive structures fabricated using the Conductive Lithographic Film (CLF) printing process. The structures, utilising two inks prepared with silver and graphite particulates as the conductive phase, have been analysed to determine electrical and mechanical properties with respect to strain, temperature and humidity when deposited on four alternative substrate materials (GlossArt, PolyArt, Teslin and Melinex)

Vanadium Oxide Thin Films Obtained by Thermal Annealing of Layers Deposited by RF Magnetron Sputtering at Room Temperature

This chapter describes a new deposition method proposed to achieve Vanadium Oxide VOx/V2O5 thin films with high temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR), intended to be used as functional material in IR microsensors (bolometers). The main aim of the work is to attain a deposition method compatible with the lift-off microstructuring technique in order to avoid the use of a reactive-ion etching (RIE) process step to selectively remove the VOx/V2O5 deposited layer in the course of the definition of the bolometer geometry, preventing the harmful effects linked to the spatial variability and the lack of selectivity of the RIE process. The proposed technique makes use of a two-stage process to produce the well-controlled VOx or V2O5 thin films by applying a suitable thermal annealing to a previously deposited layer, which was obtained before at room temperature by RF magnetron sputtering and patterned by lift-off. A set of measurements has been carried out with thin films attained in order to check the quality and properties of the materials achieved with this method. The results reached with V2O5 pure phase films are consistent with a charge transport model based on the small polarons hopping derived from Mott’s model under the Schnakenberg form

Wound healing assay in a low-cost microfluidic platform

Fil: Conde, A. J. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Tecnología. Laboratorio de Medios e Interfases; ArgentinaFil: Salvatierra, E. Fundación Instituto Leloir; ArgentinaFil: Podhajcer, O. Fundación Instituto Leloir; ArgentinaFil: Fraigi, L. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Industrial. INTI-Procesos Superficiales; ArgentinaFil: Madrid, R. E. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Tecnología. Laboratorio de Medios e Interfases; Argentin

Application of structurated materials: catalysts, supports and gas difusion layer in pem fuel cells.

Pronton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs), i.e. hydrogen or methanol, showedthat several processes were affecting its efficiency in addition to the intrinsic characteristics of thematerials used. The inlet of the fuel, the outlet of the oxidation products, the catalyzer electroactivearea are some of the points that can be improved with the use of structured materials. This workwill focus on the integration of the anodic part (diffusion layer – support – catalyzer) in a PEMFC. Inthe first part, the work focused on adapting and optimizing meso-porous catalyzers that will beused in a DMFC (Direct Methanol Fuel Cell). The reduction of platinium salts dissolved in theaqueous regions of the surfactants crystaline phases was used as a way for the formation of porouscatalyzers with a system of pores lined up and periodically separated. The thickness of thedeposited metal was improved in order to reach the best catalytic area with the smallest mass ofplatinium. These materials were charaterized superficially and electrochemically by SAXS (SmallAngle X-Ray Scattering) and refectometry. Secondly, the monolithic carbon with a hierarchical porestructure was used as a gas diffusion layer, which also acted as a catalyzer support. Moreover, theoptimization of the product transport was studied via the mechanization of the material. Thisprocess of integration can improve the miniaturization of the system and will be a powerfull helpfor small portable devices. Key words: Mesoporous, Catalizer, Mesoporous Carbón, DMF