Symposium R-Harsh Environment Sensing—Functional Nanomaterials and Nanocomposites, Materials for Associated Packaging and Electrical Components, and Applications

Harsh environment sensing needs are emerging across a broad range of application areas including large-scale power generation, aerospace / aviation, oil & gas, automotive, nuclear, and a range of others. Robust harsh environment sensors require functional materials as well as advanced materials for related packaging and electrical interconnects capable of performing adequately in harsh environmental conditions. Of particular interest for sensing applications are functional nanomaterials and nanocomposite systems comprised of nm-scale morphological features and/or intermixing of multiple phases in a controlled manner in order to impart unique functionality, enhance stability, and optimize compatibility with devices for integration. However, deployment of functional systems with nanoscale features in sensor devices and systems for harsh environment applications presents an additional set of challenges associated with enhanced thermodynamic tendencies toward coarsening, segregation and degradation over time. As just a few examples, relevant harsh environment conditions may include corrosive electrochemical environments in energy storage devices, reactive high temperature environments in power generation and combustion applications, large electrical fields in transmission and distribution systems, and high radiation dosages in space and nuclear power applications. Despite the technical challenges that must be overcome, the ability to deploy harsh environment compatible nanomaterial and nanocomposite systems in conjunction with stable sensor devices and energy-harvesting approaches can provide unprecedented access to critical process information that can yield invaluable benefits in terms of remote and self-powering functions, system simplification, energy efficiency and cost-effectiveness under the harsh environment. This symposium will highlight recent advances in the design, synthesis, characterization, and utilization of nanomaterials (ceramics, metals and alloys, polymers, etc.) and nanocomposite systems for chemical and physical parameters sensing and detection under various extreme conditions. The symposium will also cover related high temperature and harsh environment compatible materials for packaging, electrical interconnections, wiring, and other components required to make a successful and robust sensor device. Finally, selected industrial and government laboratory speakers will help to provide presentations that address the opportunities, challenges and potential impact of nanostructure based sensor materials and harsh environment sensor devices in sustainable electronic, energy and environmental applications.

• High temperature and harsh environment materials for packaging, electrical contacts, and robust sensor devices;
• Application drivers for harsh environment and high temperature sensing needs across a range of industries and areas;
• Novel harsh environment compatible sensing mechanisms in functional nanomaterials and nanocomposites;
• Modeling of the interrelationship between functional sensing material responses and overall device optimization;
• Computational modeling of nanomaterial stability and sensing responses under harsh environment conditions;
• In-situ characterization of chemistry, structure, and functional properties of nanomaterials and nanocomposites under application-relevant working conditions
• Structure and property (electrical, magnetic, optical, thermal, acoustic, etc.) interrelationships in functional sensor materials;
• Nanomaterials and nanocomposites to enable harsh environment compatible device platforms (interconnects, substrates, packaging, etc.)

• R_Harsh Environment Sensing—Functional Nanomaterials and Nanocomposites, Materials for Associated Packaging and Electrical Components, and Applications _0 (GE Global Research, USA)
• R_Harsh Environment Sensing—Functional Nanomaterials and Nanocomposites, Materials for Associated Packaging and Electrical Components, and Applications _1 (United Technologies Aerospace Systems, USA)
• R_Harsh Environment Sensing—Functional Nanomaterials and Nanocomposites, Materials for Associated Packaging and Electrical Components, and Applications _2 (University of Cincinnati, USA)
• R_Harsh Environment Sensing—Functional Nanomaterials and Nanocomposites, Materials for Associated Packaging and Electrical Components, and Applications _3 (University of Connecticut, USA)
• R_Harsh Environment Sensing—Functional Nanomaterials and Nanocomposites, Materials for Associated Packaging and Electrical Components, and Applications _4 (University of Maine, USA)
• R_Harsh Environment Sensing—Functional Nanomaterials and Nanocomposites, Materials for Associated Packaging and Electrical Components, and Applications _5 (Baker Hughes, USA)
• R_Harsh Environment Sensing—Functional Nanomaterials and Nanocomposites, Materials for Associated Packaging and Electrical Components, and Applications _6 (National Energy Technology Laboratory / DOE, USA)
• R_Harsh Environment Sensing—Functional Nanomaterials and Nanocomposites, Materials for Associated Packaging and Electrical Components, and Applications _7 (Pratt & Whitney, USA)