Dr. Joseph Stetter
President & CTO, KWJ Engineering
November 26, 2013 | 12:30 to 01:30 | 540 Cory Hall
Host: John Huggins
There are billions of physical sensors in place that include temperature, pressure, acceleration, optical, etc. in consumer, medical, automotive and industrial devices. Devices used by and for the benefit of consumers and the infrastructure used by consumers and society have created high volume markets for sensors. Chemical sensors face an uphill challenge in this paradigm. It is relatively easy to see large scale platform distribution, like the cell phone, bringing electronics and computational/connective powers to the individual. It is also relatively easy to see the need for sensory data to provide awareness of health, environment, danger, comfort, safety, and well-being. Therefore, there is a clear driver for trillions of chemical sensors since we have a “need for information” and “awareness” that is spatial, temporal, and personal in chemical dimensions. But the diversity of the chemical dimensions of sensing lead to difficult challenges. Chemical and biochemical sensors lag their physical counterparts in maturity and we have not yet discovered the “silicon” substrate for chemical sensors that allows meeting the high volume with a scalable low cost fabrication. Hence, the paradigm of abundance will not be easy to realize for chemical sensors without revolutionary approaches to chemical sensors and their manufacture. These sensors and enabling technologies include 3D printed electrochemical sensors for oxygen, CO, alcohol and a wide range of toxic, hazardous and biologically significant molecules and thermal MEMS platform sensors for CO2, CH4, and hydrocarbons and related energy gases. Many sensor technologies supporting ultra-high volume demand from global tides are technically challenging. Without a dedicated effort, development cycles may not enable reaching the trillion sensor target in one decade. Development acceleration efforts should be launched in the areas of highest impact on the world in terms of reducing global warming, delivering clean water and energy, as well medical care to all. Sensors fitting the paradigm identified above include micro and nano sensors with electronic, electrochemical, thermal, mechanical, optical and magnetic mechanisms.
Interested in nominating someone to speak at the BSAC Technology Seminar? We welcome you to submit a speaker nomination here