Within the RO1, we have accomplished comprehensive training of Dr Lutsyk as leading researcher with broad inter-sectoral and multidisciplinary knowledge and competence. The extensive range of training and knowledge transfer activities attended and completed by the Fellow provide him strong foundations for writing successful grant proposals, innovative teaching, leading internationally recognised research with high-quality dissemination. The Fellow has been trained in the fast growing field of science allowing to progress his career to senior scientist and substitution lectureship position in leading research centres.
For the RO2, we have selected and characterised a range of organic molecules for sensing of industrial polluters in liquid. Selected materials such as new derivatives of dioxaborine dyes for sensing of amines and ammonia; squarilium and spiroxantene for sensing of mercury (II); and glucose oxidase for glucose sensing were thoroughly characterised. In addition, the RO3 aiming functionalisation of carbon nanomaterials by organic macromolecules in water was accomplished. The carbon nanomaterials like carbon nanotubes are becoming potential industrial pollutants due to streaming growth of nanotechnology. Thus, the objective for our studies is to develop efficient mechanisms for detection of carbon nanotubes in water has been achieved. We have obtained efficient protocols for detection of semiconducting carbon nanotubes that involves amplification of their photoluminescent signal through the formation of macromolecular complexes with tailorable polymethine dyes.
Within the RO4, we have practically accomplished major tasks aiming preparation and characterisation of thin films made of sensing macromolecular complexes. We have studied different techniques of thin film deposition towards obtaining best quality layers and being able to process the tasks of RO5 aiming development of sensor systems based on studied materials. In the RO5, we have focused on alternative systems of micro-size fibre gratings covered by glucose oxidase and melanin thin film structures as glucose and humidity sensors, respectively, with high sensitivity and fast recovery. For the RO6, we have tested the pilot devices and discussed the testing protocols of developed sensing mechanisms. For some mechanisms we found optimisation routes, and for others we agreed that there are need for further R&D studies towards better and more stable performance. In overall, the project helped to create efficient environment for transfer of knowledge, which improved our results and established good platform for future work.
We have outlined strategy and plan for exploitation and dissemination of the results obtained in the project, which have been discussed on the focused group meetings, local seminar, etc. To sum up, at the current stage, the results needs to be advanced to the higher technology readiness level before transferring know-how to industry with appropriate measures to protect intellectual property. Dissemination of the project results has been performed according to the plan through a number of peer-review scientific journals with high impact. In total, 5 journal and a few conference papers were published with Open Access granted. We increased dissemination impact of the project producing articles for general public, attending international conferences, workshops, exhibitions allowing to communicate the project results to scientists, industrial community, and general public.
