Development of MBE-Grown CZTSSe, 2D Materials, and Carbon Nanostructure-Based RFID gas Sensors for confined spaces in Oil & Gas industry

The goal of the project is to develop novel gas sensors for application within the Oil & Gas industry, specifically for the area of monitoring confined spaces that may develop dangerous accumulations of gases. Such spaces normally come with great difficulty in the detection of leaks or variations in air quality, which cause work environments to be unsafe and lead to accidents and health hazards for employees. Currently available gas detectors exhibit poor sensitivity and reliability; they also do not provide a mode of operation that can be applied in real-time monitoring under harsh conditions. This project investigates the use of nanomaterials made by Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE) processes to enhance the performance of gas sensors. These materials will mainly be Copper Zinc Tin Sulfide Selenium (CZTSSe) and two-dimensional materials. The exploration of carbon nanostructures synthesized through different methods will also be done to develop RFID-enabled gas sensors. Nanomaterials are believed to improve several performance characteristics, including response time, sensitivity, and sensor life, when incorporated into the active area of manufactured gas sensors. With RFID-enabled sensors, remote monitoring will be achieved which can also interface with IoT systems for real-time data collection and prompt reactions improving safety measures. The result of this initiative is thus the development of a highly sensitive, reliable, and scalable gas detection system in confined spaces within the Oil and Gas sector to translate to improved safety, fewer accidents, and greater operational efficiency.

Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU)