The proposed project focus on the development of self-powered strain sensor using graphene-MXenes as the sensing element for pipeline monitoring. Pipelines are normally used to carry fluids which are in gaseous state or liquid such as water, crude oil, natural or liquefied gas, petrochemical products, etc. There are numerous underwater and underground pipelines being laid all over the world with the total length of approximately 3.5 million kilometres mainly used for oil and gas products. Thus, the world’s demand of energy requires efficient and safe delivery of fluids that could monitor the defects, leakages and other pipeline related failures. Traditional maintenance systems are no longer cost effective because of its deployment in an inaccessible and hazardous environment. Conventional conductive semiconductor sensors are facing difficulties surviving their surrounding environments and also suffer from electrical noise. Most of the pipeline monitoring systems nowadays are based on wired networks for connection and communication with pipeline sensors. Major problems encountered when in the case of the damage in the network wire, the performance of the system will be disrupted and locating the faults and carrying out subsequent corrective measures are extremely difficult as most pipelines are located in unreachable zones. In this project, a graphene/MXenes-based strain sensor is proposed for real time monitoring of the pipelines. The sensor will be self-powered as it converts the mechanical energy from the vibration into electrical energy through integration of the energy harvesting module. The added advantage of flexibility with high durability and low power consumption will allow for measurements of local deformations, damage detection, and fatigue studies of any pipeline system. Graphene is chosen as the sensing element as it offers high electronic conductivity, thermal stability and mechanical strength with the ability to be developed as interconnected 3D network. MXenes are the newest growing family of 2D materials, known to exhibit high metallic conductivity, mechanical strength and thermodynamic stability. Although the use of the 3D graphene on flexible substrates has been widely reported, but none on 3D hybrid graphene-MXene composites as flexible strain sensor with energy harvesting capability. The composites will be incorporated with polymer substrates such as polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) to produce flexible thin films. Fluoropolymer coating will provide the hydrophobicity required for the sensor to operate in water or high humidity areas such as under the sea.
Leong Wei Xian Rebecca completed her MSc at UTP before commencing her ICON sponsored PhD studentship in June 2019.
Mohamed Shuaib Mohamed Saheed received his PhD in Electrical and Electronics from UTP in 2014. During his study, he focused on the synthesis of carbon nanotubes for the detection of gases using ionization principle. He later joined as a lecturer with Department of Fundamental and Applied Sciences in UTP, where he is currently a senior lecturer and became a member of COINN. His current research interests are mainly on the synthesis and study of carbon-based nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes, graphene, and its hybrids for sensing and light emitting devices applications.
Mohamad Radzi Ahmad received his BSc. in Electrical Engineering from PURDUE University, USA in 1992, MSc. in Electronics System Design Engineering from UniversitiSains Malaysia, in 2010, and PhD in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from UTP Malaysia, in 2014. He joined UTP in 2016, where he is currently a Senior Lecturer in the Electrical and Electronic Engineering Department. Prior to joining UTP, Dr Radzi had 20 years of professional experience with electronic industries such as Intel, Avago, Western Digital and Fairchild Semiconductor, and held various positions ranging from Senior Manager to Product, Process, Failure Analysis and Design Engineer. His current research interests are mainly on; • Micro/Nano Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS/NEMS) Energy Harvesting System Development Using CMOS Technology with Graphene-based Nano Material. • Hybrid Energy Harvester Devices for IOT, Automotive and Industrial applications • Power Conditioning/Management Circuit for Energy Harvesting applications.
Norani Muti is a professor at the Department of Fundamental & Applied Sciences at Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP) and the fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM). She founded “Centre of Innovative Nanostructures and Nanodevices (COINN)” with the objective of establishing a library of nanomaterials and synthesis techniques for accelerated production of innovative and beneficial commercialized products. In 2011, COINN has been recognized as NanoMalaysiaCOE based on its continuous R&D effort on nanotechnology, focusing on alternative and renewable energy. Research works undertaken are very much focused on cutting edge research areas ranging from novel innovative nanostructures to functional nanodevices. She had secured more than RM25 million in research funding from various national grants and industrial petroleum research funding with accomplishment of more than 10 research grants as principal investigator. She is also actively involved in ISO/TC229 as the technical expert and as the chairman for working group 2 (measurement and characterization) in Malaysia.
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