Dissertation Defence: Planar Microwave Resonators for Monitoring Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and Polydimethylsiloxane Interactions

Hamed Mirzaei, supervised by Dr. Mohammad Arjmand, will defend their dissertation titled “Planar Microwave Resonators for Monitoring Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and Polydimethylsiloxane Interactions” in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering.

An abstract for Hamed Mirzaei’s dissertation is included below.

Examinations are open to all members of the campus community as well as the general public. Please email mohammad.arjmand@ubc.ca to receive the Zoom link for this exam.

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ABSTRACT

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) monitoring has a wide range of applications, including agrifood, medical diagnostics, automotive, food packaging, transportation, and petroleum. The essence of this thesis is to employ the dielectric properties of a VOC-sensitive material in pursuit of real-time monitoring of VOC concentration with a focus on understanding the associated physicochemical changes at the VOC-polymer (i.e., polydimethylsiloxane) interface. This was achieved through the implementation and experimental validation of several proposed microwave VOC monitoring systems, including ring resonators and wireless resonant surfaces, considering the geometry and morphology of the interface layer to gain deeper insights into the phenomena. VOCs are pervasive in industrial, environmental, and health contexts, making their detection and analysis critical. Using sensitive polymers as interface materials for VOC detection offers a versatile and cost-effective approach. However, the intricate mechanisms governing VOC-polymer interactions remain relatively unexplored. To bridge this knowledge gap, we employ microwave technology, known for its potential in probing subtle changes in its sensitive region. Our investigation centers on evaluating ring resonators and passive resonant surfaces as microwave-based tools for monitoring the VOC-polymer interface’s response, enabling a deeper understanding of the underlying phenomena. Furthermore, we explore the geometry and morphology of the interface layer’s intricate details, significantly influencing the physicochemical changes induced by VOC-polymer interactions. Our systematic study aims to provide a holistic understanding of the processes occurring during VOC exposure. In conclusion, our research contributes to advancing VOC detection technologies by leveraging microwave-based tools, offering valuable insights for applications where monitoring VOCs is pivotal.