Project description
Graphene could power cheap nanoscale sensors
Sensors are found in all sorts of devices, from medicine to safety, but producing them at nanometre scale can be a challenge. The EU-funded LANAFUSEHA project proposes to develop new materials that can yield new types of sensors, such as for volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Utilising 2D materials like graphene and transition metal dichalcogenides, researchers will create nanopores that increase the attachment of chemically active compounds like VOCs. Innovative manufacturing techniques based on photonic nanojets will allow the use of lasers at an unprecedented scale. New materials using this technology could be used in electronics, health and security as well as environmental and industrial monitoring.
Objective
The project will make an impact in important societal needs in the fields of energy harvesting and sensing for environmental, safety, and medical applications, which are relevant to the entire global population. The development of any of these high-tech areas is associated with the use of new materials. The scope of this proposal is to advance 2D materials by adding to them novel functionalities for improved energy-harvesting and sensing applications. Such 2D materials as graphene and transition metal dichalcogenides were selected for functionalization. The creation of nanopores or the attachment of chemically active compounds will significantly expand the capabilities of such materials, for example, it will enable the development of universal chemical sensors for the detection of volatile organic compounds. The project proposes to solve an important problem of functionalization, localized on nanoscale, which will allow minimizing the proposed devices.
The disruptive technique to be used in this proposal for nanometer-precision patterning of 2D materials is based on one of the latest nanophotonics advancements, the photonic nanojets. It is possible to functionalize 2D materials by laser with spatial resolutions significantly lower than the diffraction limit, as light in a photonic nanojet can be concentrated into a volume that is one order of magnitude smaller. The project provides for a fairly simple and scalable technology. The low technological hazard of the method and invariance for materials are the basis for economic feasibility. New materials and devices arising from this project will be exploited by the industry, strengthening the EU economy and technological excellence in the fields of energy, electronic technology, health industry, security, environmental and industrial monitoring
Fields of science
Not validated
Not validated
- engineering and technologynanotechnologynano-materialstwo-dimensional nanostructuresgraphene
- natural scienceschemical sciencesorganic chemistryvolatile organic compounds
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensors
- engineering and technologynanotechnologynanophotonics
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesopticslaser physics
Keywords
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European FellowshipsCoordinator
11635 Athina
Greece