2019英特爾ISEF學科最佳作品摘要：化學 | Best of Category Abstract: CHEMISTRY

獲獎作品基本信息

年份	2019
學科	化學 CHEMISTRY
國家/州	FL，United States of America

獲獎作品名稱

Novel Colorimetric Sensors for Detecting Chemicals in Vapor, Liquid, and Solid Phases

獲獎作品摘要

Convenient and inexpensive colorimetric chemical sensors (like pH paper), which change color when exposed to chemicals with different concentrations, are attractive due to low cost, ease of operation, and relative accuracy. I have demonstrated proof-of-concept of a new type of colorimetric sensor by testing two hypotheses: (1) by combining the concepts of shape memory polymers (SMP) with bio-inspired structural colors, novel colorimetric sensors can be built to determine concentrations based on the colors of the sensors, and (2) rapid diffusion of chemicals in vapor, liquid, and solid phases into thin SMP layers can trigger rapid microstructural changes for chemical sensing. Three model systems have been tested. The first is an ethanol sensor to specifically detect ethanol in commercial fuels. The second sensor is to detect trace amounts of common industrial pollutants (e.g., benzene/toluene/xylene or BTX) in water. I have demonstrated that trace amounts (10 ppm) of BTX can be detected by my sensors. The third solid-phase sensor is based on my independent discovery of a new phenomenon – rapid color changes of a SMP sensor triggered by diffusion of small molecules at a solid-solid interface; it will be the first solid-phase colorimetric sensor on the market, yielding many benefits. Besides simple qualitative visual readouts, a convenient smartphone-based platform has been utilized in achieving quantitative analysis. These novel sensors have an enormous variety of important applications, from detection of toxic gases in residential houses and detrimental plasticizers in kids toys to overall environmental monitoring in order to alleviate the global pollution crisis.

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ISEF 簡介

英特爾國際科學與工程大獎賽，簡稱 "ISEF"，由美國 Society for Science and the Public（科學和公共服務協會）主辦，英特爾公司冠名贊助，是全球規模最大、等級最高的中學生的科研科創賽事。ISEF 的學術活動學科包括了所有數學、自然科學、工程的全部領域和部分社會科學。ISEF 素有全球青少年科學學術活動的“世界杯”之美譽，旨在鼓勵學生團隊協作，開拓創新，長期專一深入地研究自己感興趣的課題。

學科簡介：化學 CHEMISTRY

Studies exploring the science of the composition, structure, properties, and reactions of matter not involving biochemical systems.

Subcategories:

Analytical Chemistry?(ANC):?The study of the separation, identification, and quantification of the chemical components of materials.

Computational Chemistry?(COM):?A study that applies the discipline and techniques of computer science and mathematics to solve large and complex problems in Chemistry.

Environmental Chemistry?(ENV):?The study of chemical species in the natural environment, including the effects of human activities, such as the design of products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use or generation of hazardous substances.

Inorganic Chemistry?(INO):?The study of the properties and reactions of inorganic and organometallic compounds.

Materials Chemistry?(MAT):?The chemical study of the design, synthesis and properties of substances, including condensed phases (solids, liquids, polymers) and interfaces, with a useful or potentially useful function, such as catalysis or solar energy.

Organic Chemistry?(ORG):?The study of carbon-containing compounds, including hydrocarbons and their derivatives.

Physical Chemistry?(PHC):?The study of the fundamental physical basis of chemical systems and processes, including chemical kinetics, chemical thermodynamics, electrochemistry, photochemistry, spectroscopy, statistical mechanics and astro-chemistry.

Other?(OTH):?Studies that cannot be assigned to one of the above subcategories. If the project involves multiple subcategories, the principal subcategory should be chosen instead of Other.