Sensor technology is an important enabler in modern society for detecting, monitoring and managing phenomena in our natural and built environments. There is a need for detection of trace analytes in healthcare, transportation, industrial processes, and monitoring of environmental pollution and air quality.

 

Recent technological advances have allowed for the creation of structured nanomaterials with surprising properties. Two dimensional sulphide (MoS2 and WS2) films or novel oxides fibres (MoO3, WO3) may possibly be tuned in order to achieve high sensitivity toward an analyte of interest. Moreover the addition of a thin metal (Au, Ag, Al) nanoparticle layer leads to a plasmonic effect that enhances the optical response of the sensor in the UV-Vis region, making a suitable sensor for advanced optical applications.

 

Another method for detecting gas molecules may be achieved with the quartz crystal microbalance (QCM): this technique can measure extremely low (down to nanogram) mass changes. We aim to demonstrate a shift in the QCM natural oscillation frequency due the gas adsorption onto a sensitive fibre layer.

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PhD Students: Zelio Fusco and Muhammad Imran

Supervisors: Nunzio Motta, Jennifer MacLeod, Mahnaz Shafiei, Jose Alarco, in collaboration with Antonio Tricoli (ANU).

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PhD projects available in this area.

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Funding:

ARC Linkage Project LP160100051