IHMC/UWF Smart Lecture Series with Dr. Tim Swager

THE TALK: Molecular Electronics and High-Performance Sensors

In this lecture, Dr. Timothy Swager will detail the creation of ultrasensitive sensors based on electronically active conjugated polymers (CPs) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The central concept is that a single nano- or molecular-wire spanning between two electrodes would create an exceptional sensor if binding a molecule of interest to it would block all electronic transport. The use of molecular electronic circuits to give signal gain is not limited to electrical transport and CP-based fluorescent sensors can provide ultratrace detection of chemical vapors. Recent results will detail the detection of perfluoroalkane substances (PFAS) by two separate methods exploiting our understanding of the energy transport mechanisms. Sensors for a variety of materials and cross-reactive sensor arrays will be described, including the use of carbon nanotube-based gas sensors for the detection of toxic chemicals as well as ethylene and other gases relevant to agricultural and food production, storage, and transportation.

Dr. Timothy M. Swager is the John D. MacArthur Professor of Chemistry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). A native of Montana, he earned a bachelor’s degree from Montana State University and a Ph.D. from the California Institute of Technology. After a postdoctoral appointment at MIT he was on the chemistry faculty at the University of Pennsylvania from 1990-1996 and returned to MIT in 1996 as a professor and department head from 2005-2010. He has published more than 550 peer-reviewed papers and more than 130 issued/pending patents. His research interests are in design, synthesis, and study of organic-based electronic, sensory, energy harvesting, membrane, high-strength, liquid crystalline, and colloid materials. He has founded five companies (DyNuPol, Iptyx, PolyJoule, C2 Sense and Xibus Systems) and has served on a number of corporate and government boards.