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Dr. Mina Hoorfar is a Professor and Dean at the Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Victoria (UVic), where she leads the Microfluidics and Nanotechnology Laboratory (MiNa Lab). She is internationally recognized for her innovative research in microstructure flow, nanoscaled materials, biosensors, and gas sensors, with applications spanning fluid mechanics, biochemistry, and environmental, and energy monitoring.
During my master’s program at UVic, Dr. Hoorfar served as my supervisor for a gas sensing project, where her expertise and leadership greatly influenced my work and research outcomes.
Dr. Rodney Herring, a distinguished faculty member at UVic, has been instrumental in my training in electron microscopy. Under his guidance, I gained in-depth knowledge and hands-on experience operating advanced microscopes, including SEM, TEM, STEM, EDS, FIB, and EELS, while also developing a strong conceptual understanding of other various microscopy techniques. Additionally, I had the privilege of serving as a Teaching Assistant (TA) for all his courses throughout my program, further refining my expertise in this field.
I successfully defended my master's thesis in January 2024. My research focuses on developing innovative ZnO-based gas sensors designed to detect specific analytes with improved performance under varying humidity conditions. By synthesizing and characterizing ZnO nanostructures, the study optimized their properties to enhance gas detection capabilities. Additionally, incorporating a thin layer of Au nanoparticles onto the ZnO surface significantly reduced the influence of humidity, resulting in a sensor with excellent sensitivity, selectivity, and stability. This work highlights the potential of these sensors for reliable environmental and industrial applications.
The Hitachi S-4800 field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) is a powerful tool for high-resolution imaging, equipped with a cold field emission electron source. During my time at UVic, I operated this SEM extensively, along with the Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) system, gaining hands-on experience in material characterization and analysis.
Zinc Oxide (ZnO) seed layers were prepared using the sol-gel dip coating method with triethylamine (TEA) as a complexing agent and ZAD in 1-PrOH. After ten coating cycles, the layers were calcined at 500°C for an hour. For ZnO nanostructure growth, seeded substrates were immersed in a solution of zinc nitrate hexahydrate (ZNH) and Hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA) at 90°C for 3 hours. The substrates were then thoroughly cleaned with DI water and acetone.
The second method for preparing ZnO nanostructures (NSs), thermal decomposition, involves heating zinc acetate dihydrate (ZAD) in a covered crucible at varying temperatures and durations.
For more details, please refer to my published paper (Link).
The chemical bath deposition method for synthesizing ZnO NSs involves a two-step process. First, a seed layer is formed, as shown in the SEM micrograph (upper Left). Subsequently, aligned ZnO nanosheets and nanorods are grown on this layer, as depicted in the upper right Figures. In contrast, ZnO NSs prepared via the thermal decomposition method consist of unaligned nanorods, as illustrated in Figures a-c. The size of these nanorods varies depending on the fabrication temperature, with samples prepared at 380°C, 480°C, and 580°C.
For more details, please refer to my thesis (Link).
I received training and hands-on experience in operating the Empyrean PANalytical X-ray diffraction system, utilizing Cu-Kα radiation to analyze the crystalline structure of designed materials. This expertise allowed me to characterize and understand the structural properties of various materials through precise XRD pattern analysis.
The XRD pattern of ZAD, heated at 580 °C for 1 h, 3 h, 7 h, 12 h, and 21 h in comparison with the standard pattern of hexagonal wurtzite structure of polycrystalline ZnO structure (JCPDS Card, No. 96-230-0131) are shown in Fig. a. The XRD results of the ZAD heated at 380 °C, 480 °C, and 580 °C for 12 h are illustrated in Fig. b
I received training and gained hands-on experience with various thin film deposition techniques, including DC sputtering (pictured left), thermal evaporation (middle), and chemical vapour deposition (CVD) (right). These techniques allowed me to fabricate high-quality thin films for various material applications, enhancing my expertise in thin film growth and characterization.
Gas detection is one of our most critical projects. We have developed specialized chambers designed for the precise detection of various gases, with a particular focus on volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and hydrogen gas. These chambers are engineered to ensure accurate and efficient monitoring under varying exposure times, humidity levels, and temperatures. Their advanced design plays a vital role in applications ranging from environmental monitoring to industrial safety.
A picture of the hydrogen gas detection chamber will be added soon to showcase our work in this area.
I work in JSF coatings, where I manage the process of preparing and coating metal parts. This includes preparing various parts through sanding, sandblasting, and thorough cleaning. Afterward, the parts are hung on a card, followed by acid washing and degreasing, depending on whether the material is steel or aluminum. The parts are then dried in a furnace at temperatures up to 250°C, coated with thermal spraying, and finally cured at temperatures up to 400°C, with curing times adjusted based on the material type.