Our research

At our facilities there are prepared and characterized thin film structures for chemical gas sensors and detectors based on various classes of materials:

• Black metals MBs
• Inorganic semiconductors (SnO₂, ZnO...)
• Organic semiconductors (phthalocyanines, perylenes, pyrenes, SnAcAc...)
• Polymer Ionic Liquids
• Composites and Nanocomposites (SnO₂/SnAcAc, metal/phthalocyanine, nanocarbon/phthalocyanine,... )

For the preparation, the following set of techniques is used:

• Laser techniques (PLD, MAPLE, CW-LIFT, CW-LIBT)
• PVD techniques
• Spin-coating + ink-jet
• CVD (thermal...) + electrodeposition (anodic oxidation)

Prepared sensors are characterized and studied with respect to the interaction of sensor structures with gases in:

• Gas sorption-affected studies of electrical parameters (resistivity, impedance, capacity...)
• Interference studies (cross sensitivity, selectivity)
• Detection mechanisms studies

Fabricated sensors are evaluated and improved in an iterative process (variation of composition, nanostructuring) to meet the requirements for the application in real conditions. In Sensor Group we focus on the development of gas sensors dedicated to:

• Security systems of early detection (chemical warfare agents and taggants of explosives)
• Industrial systems for detection of hazardous gases and vapors (NO₂, NH₃, CO...)
• Monitoring systems of environmental pollution