Applications of Organic Electrochemical Transistors in Subsea Environments

Organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) are an emerging sensor technology that offer significant advantages for subsea contaminant detection due to their stability in aqueous environments, ability to sense in complex solutions, and capability to amplify signals. This thesis investigates three applications of OECT sensing in subsea environments. The first focuses on the development and optimization of an OECT for detecting crude oil pipeline leaks, demonstrating the stability of OECTs in synthetic seawater and their ability to rapidly detect crude oil even in the presence of other organics. The second explores the development and optimization of an OECT for detecting carbon dioxide leaks, emphasizing the potential of OECTs as gas sensors and examining the effects of surface charges on the OECT channel. Finally, the third presents preliminary results for the development of an OECT to detect hydrocarbon gas leaks. Together, this work seeks to broaden the application of OECTs in complex subsea environments, offering novel and functional solutions to sensing challenges.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Engineering

Grantor

Rice University

Year dc:date.issued

2025

Author dc:creator

• Porter, Erin Brieann

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Verduzco, Rafael
• Biswal, Sibani L

• Organic Electrochemical Transistors
• Subsea
• Sensing

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/1911/118485

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.rice.edu:1911/118485