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Eurosensors 2018 Selected Papers

A special issue of Sensors (ISSN 1424-8220).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2019) | Viewed by 189252

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Anton Köck

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Materials Center Leoben Forschung GmbH (MCL), Roseggerstraße 12, A-8700 Leoben, Austria
Interests: chemical sensors; nanomaterials; nanosensors; CMOS & heterogeneous integration; nanosystems; 3D-integrated systems
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Marco Deluca

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Materials Center Leoben Forschung GmbH (MCL), Roseggerstraße 12, A-8700 Leoben, Austria
Interests: relaxors; ferroelectrics; piezoelectrics; perovskites; metal oxide semiconductors; energy storage; energy harvesting; thin films; ceramics; electroceramics; Raman spectroscopy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue comprises papers presented at the EUROSENSORS 2018 Conference, held from 9–12 September 2018 in Graz, Austria. This was the 32nd Edition of the highly successful EUROSENSORS conference series (held for the very first time 1987 in Cambridge, UK), which is Europe’s largest conference in the field of sensors, actuators, micro- and nanosystems, as well as related materials and fabrication technologies. A total of 563 papers were submitted to this year’s conference, which resulted in 135 contributed talks and 303 posters, with an acceptance rate of 80%. Four plenary talks and eight invited talks complemented the excellent scientific programme. More than 550 participants from academia, research institutes and companies joined this year’s EUROSENSORS 2018 conference!

We are proud to announce our agreement with MDPI to publish a Special Issue on EUROSENSORS 2018 and cordially invite all contributors to publish a full paper of their EUROSENSORS 2018 contribution in this Special Issue of the journal Sensors (ISSN1424-8220; Impact Factor 2.475; https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sensors) published online by MDPI, Switzerland. According to the publishing rules, the full paper should be based on your conference presentation and the 4-page extended abstracts, and should be expanded to the size of a research article (add about 50% new materials).

Dr. Anton Köck
Dr. Marco Deluca
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sensors is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Published Papers (44 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 3251 KiB  
Article
Transfer Printing Technology as a Straightforward Method to Fabricate Chemical Sensors Based on Tin Dioxide Nanowires
by Florentyna Sosada-Ludwikowska, Robert Wimmer-Teubenbacher, Martin Sagmeister and Anton Köck
Sensors 2019, 19(14), 3049; https://doi.org/10.3390/s19143049 - 10 Jul 2019
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2986
Abstract
Metal oxide multi-nanowire-based chemical gas sensors were manufactured by a fast and simple transfer printing technology. A two-step method employing spray pyrolysis deposition and a thermal annealing process was used for SnO 2 nanowires fabrication. A polydimethylsiloxane stamp was used to transfer the [...] Read more.
Metal oxide multi-nanowire-based chemical gas sensors were manufactured by a fast and simple transfer printing technology. A two-step method employing spray pyrolysis deposition and a thermal annealing process was used for SnO 2 nanowires fabrication. A polydimethylsiloxane stamp was used to transfer the SnO 2 nanowires on two different gas sensing devices—Si-based substrates and microhotplate-based platform chips. Both contained a metallic inter-digital electrode structure (IDES), on which the SnO 2 nanowires were transferred for realization of multi-NW gas sensor devices. The gas sensor devices show a very high response towards H 2 S down to the 10 ppb range. Furthermore, a good response towards CO has been achieved, where in particular the microhotplate-based devices exhibit almost no cross sensitivity to humidity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eurosensors 2018 Selected Papers)
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12 pages, 4291 KiB  
Article
Influence of the Porosity of Polymer Foams on the Performances of Capacitive Flexible Pressure Sensors
by Sylvie Bilent, Thi Hong Nhung Dinh, Emile Martincic and Pierre-Yves Joubert
Sensors 2019, 19(9), 1968; https://doi.org/10.3390/s19091968 - 26 Apr 2019
Cited by 35 | Viewed by 5569
Abstract
This paper reports on the study of microporous polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) foams as a highly deformable dielectric material used in the composition of flexible capacitive pressure sensors dedicated to wearable use. A fabrication process allowing the porosity of the foams to be adjusted was [...] Read more.
This paper reports on the study of microporous polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) foams as a highly deformable dielectric material used in the composition of flexible capacitive pressure sensors dedicated to wearable use. A fabrication process allowing the porosity of the foams to be adjusted was proposed and the fabricated foams were characterized. Then, elementary capacitive pressure sensors (15 × 15 mm2 square shaped electrodes) were elaborated with fabricated foams (5 mm or 10 mm thick) and were electromechanically characterized. Since the sensor responses under load are strongly non-linear, a behavioral non-linear model (first order exponential) was proposed, adjusted to the experimental data, and used to objectively estimate the sensor performances in terms of sensitivity and measurement range. The main conclusions of this study are that the porosity of the PDMS foams can be adjusted through the sugar:PDMS volume ratio and the size of sugar crystals used to fabricate the foams. Additionally, the porosity of the foams significantly modified the sensor performances. Indeed, compared to bulk PDMS sensors of the same size, the sensitivity of porous PDMS sensors could be multiplied by a factor up to 100 (the sensitivity is 0.14 %.kPa−1 for a bulk PDMS sensor and up to 13.7 %.kPa−1 for a porous PDMS sensor of the same dimensions), while the measurement range was reduced from a factor of 2 to 3 (from 594 kPa for a bulk PDMS sensor down to between 255 and 177 kPa for a PDMS foam sensor of the same dimensions, according to the porosity). This study opens the way to the design and fabrication of wearable flexible pressure sensors with adjustable performances through the control of the porosity of the fabricated PDMS foams. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eurosensors 2018 Selected Papers)
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14 pages, 7259 KiB  
Article
Optimization of a Piezoelectric Energy Harvester and Design of a Charge Pump Converter for CMOS-MEMS Monolithic Integration
by Marcos Duque, Edgardo Leon-Salguero, Jordi Sacristán, Jaume Esteve and Gonzalo Murillo
Sensors 2019, 19(8), 1895; https://doi.org/10.3390/s19081895 - 21 Apr 2019
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 5212
Abstract
The increasing interest in the Internet of Things (IoT) has led to the rapid development of low-power sensors and wireless networks. However, there are still several barriers that make a global deployment of the IoT difficult. One of these issues is the energy [...] Read more.
The increasing interest in the Internet of Things (IoT) has led to the rapid development of low-power sensors and wireless networks. However, there are still several barriers that make a global deployment of the IoT difficult. One of these issues is the energy dependence, normally limited by the capacitance of the batteries. A promising solution to provide energy autonomy to the IoT nodes is to harvest residual energy from ambient sources, such as motion, vibrations, light, or heat. Mechanical energy can be converted into electrical energy by using piezoelectric transducers. The piezoelectric generators provide an alternating electrical signal that must be rectified and, therefore, needs a power management circuit to adapt the output to the operating voltage of the IoT devices. The bonding and packaging of the different components constitute a large part of the cost of the manufacturing process of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and integrated circuits. This could be reduced by using a monolithic integration of the generator together with the circuitry in a single chip. In this work, we report the optimization, fabrication, and characterization of a vibration-driven piezoelectric MEMS energy harvester, and the design and simulation of a charge-pump converter based on a standard complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) technology. Finally, we propose combining MEMS and CMOS technologies to obtain a fully integrated system that includes the piezoelectric generator device and the charge-pump converter circuit without the need of external components. This solution opens new doors to the development of low-cost autonomous smart dust devices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eurosensors 2018 Selected Papers)
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11 pages, 3631 KiB  
Article
Analysis of a Hybrid Micro-Electro-Mechanical Sensor Based on Graphene Oxide/Polyvinyl Alcohol for Humidity Measurements
by Carlo Trigona, Ammar Al-Hamry, Olfa Kanoun and Salvatore Baglio
Sensors 2019, 19(7), 1720; https://doi.org/10.3390/s19071720 - 10 Apr 2019
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3322
Abstract
In this paper, we present a redundant microsensor based on the bulk and etch silicon‑on‑insulator (BESOI) process for measuring relative humidity (RH), by using a graphene‑oxide/polyvinyl‑alcohol (GO/PVA) composite. The MEMS is a mechanical oscillator, composed of a proof mass with multilayer of nanomaterials [...] Read more.
In this paper, we present a redundant microsensor based on the bulk and etch silicon‑on‑insulator (BESOI) process for measuring relative humidity (RH), by using a graphene‑oxide/polyvinyl‑alcohol (GO/PVA) composite. The MEMS is a mechanical oscillator, composed of a proof mass with multilayer of nanomaterials (GO/PVA) and suspended by four crab-leg springs. The redundant approach realized concerns the use of different readout strategies in order to estimate the same measurand RH. This is an intriguing solution to realize a robust measurement system with multiple outputs, by using the GO/PVA as functional material. In the presence of RH variation, GO/PVA (1) changes its mass, and as consequence, a variation of the natural frequency of the integrated oscillator can be observed; and (2) varies its conductivity, which can be measured by using two integrated electrodes. The sensor was designed, analyzed and modeled; experimental results are reported here to demonstrate the effectiveness of our implementation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eurosensors 2018 Selected Papers)
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9 pages, 2267 KiB  
Article
Peptide Cross-Linked Poly (Ethylene Glycol) Hydrogel Films as Biosensor Coatings for the Detection of Collagenase
by Norlaily Ahmad, Burcu Colak, De-Wen Zhang, Martin John Gibbs, Michael Watkinson, C. Remzi Becer, Julien E. Gautrot and Steffi Krause
Sensors 2019, 19(7), 1677; https://doi.org/10.3390/s19071677 - 08 Apr 2019
Cited by 27 | Viewed by 5744
Abstract
Peptide cross-linked poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogel has been widely used for drug delivery and tissue engineering. However, the use of this material as a biosensor for the detection of collagenase has not been explored. Proteases play a key role in the pathology of diseases [...] Read more.
Peptide cross-linked poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogel has been widely used for drug delivery and tissue engineering. However, the use of this material as a biosensor for the detection of collagenase has not been explored. Proteases play a key role in the pathology of diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. The detection of this class of enzyme using the degradable hydrogel film format is promising as a point-of-care device for disease monitoring. In this study, a protease biosensor was developed based on the degradation of a peptide cross-linked poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogel film and demonstrated for the detection of collagenase. The hydrogel was deposited on gold-coated quartz crystals, and their degradation in the presence of collagenase was monitored using a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM). The biosensor was shown to respond to concentrations between 2 and 2000 nM in less than 10 min with a lower detection limit of 2 nM. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eurosensors 2018 Selected Papers)
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14 pages, 4185 KiB  
Article
A Compact Thévenin Model for a Rectenna and Its Application to an RF Harvester with MPPT
by Manel Gasulla, Edgar Ripoll-Vercellone and Ferran Reverter
Sensors 2019, 19(7), 1641; https://doi.org/10.3390/s19071641 - 06 Apr 2019
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4211
Abstract
This paper proposes a compact Thévenin model for a rectenna. This model is then applied to design a high-efficiency radio frequency harvester with a maximum power point tracker (MPPT). The rectenna under study consists of an L-matching network and a half-wave rectifier. The [...] Read more.
This paper proposes a compact Thévenin model for a rectenna. This model is then applied to design a high-efficiency radio frequency harvester with a maximum power point tracker (MPPT). The rectenna under study consists of an L-matching network and a half-wave rectifier. The derived model is simpler and more compact than those suggested so far in the literature and includes explicit expressions of the Thévenin voltage (Voc) and resistance and of the power efficiency related with the parameters of the rectenna. The rectenna was implemented and characterized from −30 to −10 dBm at 808 MHz. Experimental results agree with the proposed model, showing a linear current–voltage relationship as well as a maximum efficiency at Voc/2, in particular 60% at −10 dBm, which is a remarkable value. An MPPT was also used at the rectenna output in order to automatically work at the maximum efficiency point, with an overall efficiency near 50% at −10 dBm. Further tests were performed using a nearby transmitting antenna for powering a sensor node with a power consumption of 4.2 µW. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eurosensors 2018 Selected Papers)
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11 pages, 650 KiB  
Article
High Precision Vibration-Type Densitometers Based on Pulsed Excitation Measurements
by Andreas Rechberger, Robert Amsüss, Stefan Rossegger, Robert Breidler and Gerald Steiner
Sensors 2019, 19(7), 1627; https://doi.org/10.3390/s19071627 - 05 Apr 2019
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4034
Abstract
Glass flexural resonators have established themselves as one of the de-facto standard methods for measuring the density of liquids in a laboratory environment. The core of this sensor is a U-Tube measuring cell whose oscillator’s resonance frequency changes with the mass of the [...] Read more.
Glass flexural resonators have established themselves as one of the de-facto standard methods for measuring the density of liquids in a laboratory environment. The core of this sensor is a U-Tube measuring cell whose oscillator’s resonance frequency changes with the mass of the liquid within the tube. This relationship can be used to derive the density of liquids in a fast and reliable way. In order to achieve the highest accuracy for the density measurement multiple physical effects (e.g., damping due to viscosity effects) need to be taken into account. For a reliable correction, additional measurements are required. The pulsed excitation method is able to produce these additional parameters along with a superior measurement performance compared to previous techniques. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eurosensors 2018 Selected Papers)
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12 pages, 5930 KiB  
Article
A Miniature Fabry Perot Sensor for Twist/Rotation, Strain and Temperature Measurements Based on a Four-Core Fiber
by Vedran Budinski and Denis Donlagic
Sensors 2019, 19(7), 1574; https://doi.org/10.3390/s19071574 - 01 Apr 2019
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3747
Abstract
In this article, a novel miniature Fabry-Perot twist/rotation sensor using a four core fiber and quadruple interferometer setup is presented and demonstrated. Detailed sensor modeling, analytical evaluation and test measurement assessment were conducted in this contribution. The sensor structure comprises a single lead-in [...] Read more.
In this article, a novel miniature Fabry-Perot twist/rotation sensor using a four core fiber and quadruple interferometer setup is presented and demonstrated. Detailed sensor modeling, analytical evaluation and test measurement assessment were conducted in this contribution. The sensor structure comprises a single lead-in multicore fiber, which has four eccentrically positioned cores, a special asymmetrical microstructure, and an inline semi-reflective mirror, all packed in a glass capillary housing. A four core fiber positioned in front of a special asymmetrical microstructure and the inline semi reflective mirror defines four Fabry-Perot interferometers. Rotation of the sensors’ asymmetrical microstructure around the axis of the in-line four core fibers´ modulates the path lengths of all four interferometers simultaneously. Proper processing of path length changes of all four interferometers allows for unambiguous and temperature independent determination of the sensor’s rotation angle. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eurosensors 2018 Selected Papers)
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19 pages, 4928 KiB  
Article
Bed-Embedded Heart and Respiration Rates Detection by Longitudinal Ballistocardiography and Pattern Recognition
by Almothana Albukhari, Frederico Lima and Ulrich Mescheder
Sensors 2019, 19(6), 1451; https://doi.org/10.3390/s19061451 - 25 Mar 2019
Cited by 27 | Viewed by 4935
Abstract
In this work, a low-cost, off-the-shelf load cell is installed on a typical hospital bed and implemented to measure the longitudinal ballistocardiogram (BCG) in order to evaluate its utility for successful contactless monitoring of heart and respiration rates. The major focus is placed [...] Read more.
In this work, a low-cost, off-the-shelf load cell is installed on a typical hospital bed and implemented to measure the longitudinal ballistocardiogram (BCG) in order to evaluate its utility for successful contactless monitoring of heart and respiration rates. The major focus is placed on the beat-to-beat heart rate monitoring task, for which an unsupervised machine learning algorithm is employed, while its performance is compared to an electrocardiogram (ECG) signal that serves as a reference. The algorithm is a modified version of a previously published one, which had successfully detected 49.2% of recorded heartbeats. However, the presented system was tested with seven volunteers and four different lying positions, and obtained an improved overall detection rate of 83.9%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eurosensors 2018 Selected Papers)
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8 pages, 1819 KiB  
Article
Thermoelectric Photosensor Based on Ultrathin Single-Crystalline Si Films †
by Gustavo Gonçalves Dalkiranis, Pablo Ferrando-Villalba, Aitor Lopeandia-Fernández, Llibertat Abad-Muñoz and Javier Rodríguez-Viejo
Sensors 2019, 19(6), 1427; https://doi.org/10.3390/s19061427 - 22 Mar 2019
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2935
Abstract
Ultrathin Si films have a reduced thermal conductivity in comparison to Si bulk due to phonon scattering at the surfaces. Furthermore, the small thickness guarantees a reduced thermal mass (in the µJ/K range), which opens up the possibility of developing thermal sensors with [...] Read more.
Ultrathin Si films have a reduced thermal conductivity in comparison to Si bulk due to phonon scattering at the surfaces. Furthermore, the small thickness guarantees a reduced thermal mass (in the µJ/K range), which opens up the possibility of developing thermal sensors with a high sensitivity. Based on these premises, a thermoelectric (TE) microsensor based on ultrathin suspended Si films was developed and used as a thermal photosensor. The photoresponse of the device was evaluated with an argon laser (λ = 457 nm) with a variable power ranging from 0 to 10 mW in air at atmospheric pressure, with laser diodes at 406 nm, 520 nm and 638 nm wavelengths, and fixed powers in high vacuum conditions. The responsivity per unit area, response time (τ) and detectivity (D*) of the device were determined in air at ambient pressure, being 2.6 × 107 V/Wm2, ~4.3 ms and 2.86 × 10 7   c m H z ( 1 / 2 ) W − 1 , respectively. Temperature differences up to 30 K between the central hot region and the Si frame were achieved during open-circuit voltage measurements, with and without laser diodes. During illumination, the photogeneration of carriers caused a slight reduction of the Seebeck coefficient, which did not significantly change the sensitivity of the device. Moreover, the measurements performed with light beam chopped at different frequencies evidenced the quick response of the device. The temperature gradients applied to the thermoelectric Si legs were corrected using finite element modeling (FEM) due to the non-flat temperature profile generated during the experiments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eurosensors 2018 Selected Papers)
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20 pages, 7440 KiB  
Article
Development and Characterization of Thermal Flow Sensors for Non-Invasive Measurements in HVAC Systems
by Samir Cerimovic, Albert Treytl, Thomas Glatzl, Roman Beigelbeck, Franz Keplinger and Thilo Sauter
Sensors 2019, 19(6), 1397; https://doi.org/10.3390/s19061397 - 21 Mar 2019
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3979
Abstract
We investigated non-invasive flow rate measurements in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems utilizing thermal transduction instead of commonly used ultrasonic techniques. The proposed thermal flow transduction comprises two temperature sensors and a heater, all mounted non-invasively on the outer surface of [...] Read more.
We investigated non-invasive flow rate measurements in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems utilizing thermal transduction instead of commonly used ultrasonic techniques. The proposed thermal flow transduction comprises two temperature sensors and a heater, all mounted non-invasively on the outer surface of metal-pipes and, therefore, not disturbing the fluid flow inside. One temperature sensor measures the heater temperature, whereas the other one, mounted upstream of the heater, follows the fluid temperature for reference. The temperature difference (i.e., the heater excess temperature) depends on the fluid flow velocity and can be used to derive the mean volume flow inside the pipe. Experimental characterizations were conducted using two sensor prototypes. Beside output characteristics, other main issues such as dynamic behavior and noise density were investigated in detail. Special attention was paid to error compensation allowing measurements within a large range of fluid temperatures. Measurement results confirm the feasibility of this approach, however with some constraints regarding response time. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eurosensors 2018 Selected Papers)
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16 pages, 4650 KiB  
Article
Implementation and Validation of a Two-Stage Energy Extraction Circuit for a Self Sustained Asset-Tracking System
by Philipp Dorsch, Toni Bartsch, Florian Hubert, Heinrich Milosiu and Stefan J. Rupitsch
Sensors 2019, 19(6), 1330; https://doi.org/10.3390/s19061330 - 16 Mar 2019
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3701
Abstract
We present a two-stage energy extraction circuit for a piezoelectric energy harvester, powering an asset-tracking system. Exploiting accelerations generated by many logistic transport devices, e.g., pushcarts, forklifts, assembly belts or cars, we are able to harvest sufficient electrical energy to transmit radio signals, [...] Read more.
We present a two-stage energy extraction circuit for a piezoelectric energy harvester, powering an asset-tracking system. Exploiting accelerations generated by many logistic transport devices, e.g., pushcarts, forklifts, assembly belts or cars, we are able to harvest sufficient electrical energy to transmit radio signals, which will allow to track an object when it is moving. Accelerations in logistic applications are non-sinusoidal and lead to high open-circuit voltages, which demand a special adaption of the energy extraction network. We evaluate the performance of several state-of-the-art energy extraction networks and compare those to the performance of our two-stage approach under various excitation conditions. By using the proposed energy extraction circuit, the transmission rate could be increased from four to six transmissions per second for sinusoidal excitations with an open-circuit-voltage of 60 V . In the practical use-case, the two-stage energy extraction network performs more than two times better compared to the one-stage and synchronized switching harvesting with inductor approach. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eurosensors 2018 Selected Papers)
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13 pages, 4991 KiB  
Article
Performance Evaluation of Miniature Integrated Electrochemical Cells Fabricated Using LTCC Technology
by Paulina Szymanowska, Damian Nowak and Tomasz Piasecki
Sensors 2019, 19(6), 1314; https://doi.org/10.3390/s19061314 - 15 Mar 2019
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3504
Abstract
Miniaturized and integrated analytical devices, including chemical sensors, are at the forefront of modern analytical chemistry. The construction of novel analytical tools takes advantage of contemporary micro- and nanotechnologies, as well as materials science and technology. Two electrochemical techniques were used in experiments: [...] Read more.
Miniaturized and integrated analytical devices, including chemical sensors, are at the forefront of modern analytical chemistry. The construction of novel analytical tools takes advantage of contemporary micro- and nanotechnologies, as well as materials science and technology. Two electrochemical techniques were used in experiments: electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The goal of this study was to investigate electron transfer resistance in a model solution containing Fe 2 + / 3 + ions and protein adsorption using integrated electrochemical cells with different geometry. Tests performed at various Fe 2 + / 3 + concentration allowed to verify that these cells work properly. The influence of bovine serum albumin adsorbing to the surface of the integrated electrochemical cells was investigated. In electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, the value of R c t increased with protein adsorption and the relative change of R c t was in range 21% to 55%. In cyclic voltammetry the decreasing amperometric response of the working electrode was used as evidence of protein adsorption on the electrode. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eurosensors 2018 Selected Papers)
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13 pages, 5275 KiB  
Article
Continuous Live-Cell Culture Imaging and Single-Cell Tracking by Computational Lensfree LED Microscopy
by Gregor Scholz, Shinta Mariana, Agus Budi Dharmawan, Iqbal Syamsu, Philipp Hörmann, Carsten Reuse, Jana Hartmann, Karsten Hiller, Joan Daniel Prades, Hutomo Suryo Wasisto and Andreas Waag
Sensors 2019, 19(5), 1234; https://doi.org/10.3390/s19051234 - 11 Mar 2019
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 7607
Abstract
Continuous cell culture monitoring as a way of investigating growth, proliferation, and kinetics of biological experiments is in high demand. However, commercially available solutions are typically expensive and large in size. Digital inline-holographic microscopes (DIHM) can provide a cost-effective alternative to conventional microscopes, [...] Read more.
Continuous cell culture monitoring as a way of investigating growth, proliferation, and kinetics of biological experiments is in high demand. However, commercially available solutions are typically expensive and large in size. Digital inline-holographic microscopes (DIHM) can provide a cost-effective alternative to conventional microscopes, bridging the gap towards live-cell culture imaging. In this work, a DIHM is built from inexpensive components and applied to different cell cultures. The images are reconstructed by computational methods and the data are analyzed with particle detection and tracking methods. Counting of cells as well as movement tracking of living cells is demonstrated, showing the feasibility of using a field-portable DIHM for basic cell culture investigation and bringing about the potential to deeply understand cell motility. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eurosensors 2018 Selected Papers)
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10 pages, 4162 KiB  
Article
Non-Contact Radiofrequency Inductive Sensor for the Dielectric Characterization of Burn Depth in Organic Tissues
by Thi Hong Nhung Dinh, Stéphane Serfaty and Pierre-Yves Joubert
Sensors 2019, 19(5), 1220; https://doi.org/10.3390/s19051220 - 11 Mar 2019
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3072
Abstract
A flat circular transmission line-based 300 MHz resonator was implemented for the non-contact assessment of burn depths in biological tissues. Used as a transmit-and-receive sensor, it was placed at a 2 mm distance from organic material test samples (pork fillet samples) which were [...] Read more.
A flat circular transmission line-based 300 MHz resonator was implemented for the non-contact assessment of burn depths in biological tissues. Used as a transmit-and-receive sensor, it was placed at a 2 mm distance from organic material test samples (pork fillet samples) which were previously burned on their surface in various heating conditions involving different temperatures, durations, and procedures. Data extracted from the sensor by means of a distant monitoring coil were found to clearly correlate with the depth of burn observed in the tissue samples (up to 40% sensor output changes for a 7 mm burn depth) and with the heating conditions (around 5% sensor output changes observed in samples burned with identical heating procedures but at two different temperatures—75 °C and 150 °C—and around 40% sensor output changes observed between samples heated at the same temperature but with different heating procedures). These results open the way for the development of easy-to-implement assessment and monitoring techniques for burns, e.g., integrated in wearable medical dressing-like monitoring devices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eurosensors 2018 Selected Papers)
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21 pages, 6449 KiB  
Article
Ligand-Linked Nanoparticles-Based Hydrogen Gas Sensor with Excellent Homogeneous Temperature Field and a Comparative Stability Evaluation of Different Ligand-Linked Catalysts
by Anmona Shabnam Pranti, Daniel Loof, Sebastian Kunz, Volkmar Zielasek, Marcus Bäumer and Walter Lang
Sensors 2019, 19(5), 1205; https://doi.org/10.3390/s19051205 - 09 Mar 2019
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2937
Abstract
This paper presents a thermoelectric gas microsensor with improved stability where platinum nanoparticles linked by bifunctional ligands are used as a catalyst. The sensor design provides a homogeneous temperature field over the membrane, an important factor for the long-term stability of the catalyst. [...] Read more.
This paper presents a thermoelectric gas microsensor with improved stability where platinum nanoparticles linked by bifunctional ligands are used as a catalyst. The sensor design provides a homogeneous temperature field over the membrane, an important factor for the long-term stability of the catalyst. A comprehensive study of heat transfer from the chip is performed to evaluate the convection heat loss coefficient and to understand its effect on the homogeneity of the temperature field in a real-time situation. The effect of highly heat-conductive thermopiles is also analyzed by comparing the temperature distribution and power consumption with a thermoresistive sensor of the same dimensions and materials. Despite the thermopiles, the thermoelectric sensor gives better temperature homogeneity and consumes 23% less power than the thermoresistive sensor for 90 °C average temperature on the membrane. A comparative stability analysis among ligand-linked nanoparticles with 5 different ligands and unprotected nanoparticles was done through 3 consecutive 24 h tests under 1.5% continuous hydrogen gas flow. The sensors give very stable output, almost no degradation, through 72 h (3 × 24 h) tests for 3 different ligand-linked nanoparticles. The sensor design provides superb stability to the catalyst: Even catalysts of unprotected nanoparticles withstood more than 24 h and the sensor signal degradation is only 20%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eurosensors 2018 Selected Papers)
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10 pages, 3797 KiB  
Article
High Accuracy and Miniature 2-D Wind Sensor for Boundary Layer Meteorological Observation
by Yichen Pan, Zhan Zhao, Rongjian Zhao, Zhen Fang, Hong Wu, Xianghua Niu and Lidong Du
Sensors 2019, 19(5), 1194; https://doi.org/10.3390/s19051194 - 08 Mar 2019
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2771
Abstract
Wind speed and direction are important parameters in meteorological observation. A solid wind sensor is needed with a small quadcopter for boundary layer meteorological observation. In this paper, the principle of a cylindrical two-dimensional wind sensor is reported and the data from wind [...] Read more.
Wind speed and direction are important parameters in meteorological observation. A solid wind sensor is needed with a small quadcopter for boundary layer meteorological observation. In this paper, the principle of a cylindrical two-dimensional wind sensor is reported and the data from wind tunnel experiments are analyzed. A model is proposed to describe the distribution of the pressure difference across a diameter of a cylinder, and the wind sensor is fabricated with MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical System) differential pressure sensors. The wind sensor cylinder has a small size with a diameter of 30 mm and a height of 80 mm. In wind tunnel tests in the range of 1 to 40 m/s, the relative speed measuring errors and the direction measuring errors of the prototype are no more than ± (0.2 + 0.03 V) m/s (V is standard wind speed) and 5°, respectively. An inclination angle model is proposed to correct the influence of tilt angle on the quadcopter platform, the wind sensor can maintain the original wind speed and direction measurement accuracy within the 30° inclination range after compensation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eurosensors 2018 Selected Papers)
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9 pages, 4451 KiB  
Article
Screen-Printed Sensors for Colorimetric Detection of Hydrogen Sulfide in Ambient Air
by Laura Engel, Karina R. Tarantik, Carolin Pannek and Jürgen Wöllenstein
Sensors 2019, 19(5), 1182; https://doi.org/10.3390/s19051182 - 08 Mar 2019
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4328
Abstract
A fast and sensitive method to monitor hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in ambient air based on a visible color change of a printed disposable sensor has been developed. As gas-sensitive material, an immobilized copper(II) complex of the azo dye 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphtol (H-PAN) was [...] Read more.
A fast and sensitive method to monitor hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in ambient air based on a visible color change of a printed disposable sensor has been developed. As gas-sensitive material, an immobilized copper(II) complex of the azo dye 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphtol (H-PAN) was synthesized and prepared in an ethyl cellulose matrix for screen printing. If H2S is present in ambient air, the gas sensitive layer changes its color from purple to yellow. A pre-primed polyethylene (PE) foil and a coated offset paper served as the printing substrate. The colorimetric response to the target gas was measured by UV/Vis spectroscopy in reflection at H2S concentrations between 1 to 20 ppm. Possible cross-sensitivities of the printed sensors towards methane (CH4), formaldehyde (CH2O), carbon monoxide (CO), ammonia (NH3), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), as well as the long-term stability was investigated. Furthermore, reflection measurements of the Cu-PAN complex on an amorphous silica powder under gas admission served as preliminary test for the subsequent paste development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eurosensors 2018 Selected Papers)
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11 pages, 3986 KiB  
Article
Real-Time Thermal Modulation of High Bandwidth MOX Gas Sensors for Mobile Robot Applications
by Yuxin Xing, Timothy A. Vincent, Marina Cole and Julian W. Gardner
Sensors 2019, 19(5), 1180; https://doi.org/10.3390/s19051180 - 08 Mar 2019
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 4245
Abstract
A new signal processing technique has been developed for resistive metal oxide (MOX) gas sensors to enable high-bandwidth measurements and enhanced selectivity at PPM levels (<5 PPM VOCs). An embedded micro-heater is thermally pulsed from a temperature of 225 to 350 °C, which [...] Read more.
A new signal processing technique has been developed for resistive metal oxide (MOX) gas sensors to enable high-bandwidth measurements and enhanced selectivity at PPM levels (<5 PPM VOCs). An embedded micro-heater is thermally pulsed from a temperature of 225 to 350 °C, which enables the chemical reaction kinetics of the sensing film to be extracted using a fast Fourier transform. Signal processing is performed in real-time using a low-cost microcontroller integrated into a sensor module. Three sensors, coated with SnO2, WO3 and NiO respectively, were operated and processed at the same time. This approach enables the removal of long-term baseline drift and is more resilient to changes in ambient temperature. It also greatly reduced the measurement time from ~10 s to 2 s or less. Bench-top experimental results are presented for 0 to 200 ppm of acetone, and 0 ppm to 500 ppm of ethanol. Our results demonstrate our sensor system can be used on a mobile robot for real-time gas sensing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eurosensors 2018 Selected Papers)
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15 pages, 1985 KiB  
Article
Design and Manufacturing of a Disposable, Cyclo-Olefin Copolymer, Microfluidic Device for a Biosensor †
by Jorge Prada, Christina Cordes, Carsten Harms and Walter Lang
Sensors 2019, 19(5), 1178; https://doi.org/10.3390/s19051178 - 07 Mar 2019
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3580
Abstract
This contribution outlines the design and manufacturing of a microfluidic device implemented as a biosensor for retrieval and detection of bacteria RNA. The device is fully made of Cyclo-Olefin Copolymer (COC), which features low auto-fluorescence, biocompatibility and manufacturability by hot-embossing. The RNA retrieval [...] Read more.
This contribution outlines the design and manufacturing of a microfluidic device implemented as a biosensor for retrieval and detection of bacteria RNA. The device is fully made of Cyclo-Olefin Copolymer (COC), which features low auto-fluorescence, biocompatibility and manufacturability by hot-embossing. The RNA retrieval was carried on after bacteria heat-lysis by an on-chip micro-heater, whose function was characterized at different working parameters. Carbon resistive temperature sensors were tested, characterized and printed on the biochip sealing film to monitor the heating process. Off-chip and on-chip processed RNA were hybridized with capture probes on the reaction chamber surface and identification was achieved by detection of fluorescence tags. The application of the mentioned techniques and materials proved to allow the development of low-cost, disposable albeit multi-functional microfluidic system, performing heating, temperature sensing and chemical reaction processes in the same device. By proving its effectiveness, this device contributes a reference to show the integration potential of fully thermoplastic devices in biosensor systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eurosensors 2018 Selected Papers)
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17 pages, 1582 KiB  
Article
Classification of Sonar Targets in Air: A Neural Network Approach
by Patrick K. Kroh, Ralph Simon and Stefan J. Rupitsch
Sensors 2019, 19(5), 1176; https://doi.org/10.3390/s19051176 - 07 Mar 2019
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4016
Abstract
Ultrasonic sonar sensors are commonly used for contactless distance measurements in application areas such as automotive and mobile robotics. They can also be exploited to identify and classify sound-reflecting objects (targets), which may then be used as landmarks for navigation. In the presented [...] Read more.
Ultrasonic sonar sensors are commonly used for contactless distance measurements in application areas such as automotive and mobile robotics. They can also be exploited to identify and classify sound-reflecting objects (targets), which may then be used as landmarks for navigation. In the presented work, sonar targets of different geometric shapes and sizes are classified with custom-engineered features. Artificial neural networks (ANNs) with multiple hidden layers are applied as classifiers and different features are tested as well as compared. We concentrate on features that are related to target strength estimates derived from pulse-compressed echoes. In doing so, one is able to distinguish different target geometries with a high rate of success and to perform tests with ANNs regarding their capabilities for size discrimination of targets with the same geometric shape. A comparison of achievable classifier performance with wideband and narrowband chirp excitation signals was conducted as well. The research indicates that our engineered features and excitation signals are suitable for the target classification task. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eurosensors 2018 Selected Papers)
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12 pages, 906 KiB  
Article
Spatially Resolved Cross-Linking Characterization by Imaging Low-Coherence Interferometry
by Christopher Taudt, Bryan Nelsen, Elisabeth Rossegger, Sandra Schlögl, Edmund Koch and Peter Hartmann
Sensors 2019, 19(5), 1152; https://doi.org/10.3390/s19051152 - 07 Mar 2019
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3310
Abstract
A method to characterize cross-linking differences in polymers such as waveguide polymers has been developed. The method is based on the scan-free information acquisition utilizing a low-coherence interferometer in conjunction with an imaging spectrometer. By the introduction of a novel analyzing algorithm, the [...] Read more.
A method to characterize cross-linking differences in polymers such as waveguide polymers has been developed. The method is based on the scan-free information acquisition utilizing a low-coherence interferometer in conjunction with an imaging spectrometer. By the introduction of a novel analyzing algorithm, the recorded spectral-phase data was interpreted as wavelength-dependent optical thickness which is matchable with the refractive index and therefore with the degree of cross-linking. In the course of this work, the method was described in its hardware and algorithmic implementation as well as in its accuracy. Comparative measurements and error estimations showed an accuracy in the range of 10−6 in terms of the refractive index. Finally, photo-lithographically produced samples with laterally defined cross-linking differences have been characterized. It could be shown, that differences in the optical thickness of ±1.5 μm are distinguishable. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eurosensors 2018 Selected Papers)
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14 pages, 6886 KiB  
Article
Magnetic Frequency Tuning of a Multimodal Vibration Energy Harvester
by Sofiane Bouhedma, Yuhang Zheng, Fred Lange and Dennis Hohlfeld
Sensors 2019, 19(5), 1149; https://doi.org/10.3390/s19051149 - 07 Mar 2019
Cited by 26 | Viewed by 4251
Abstract
In this paper, we present a novel vibration-based piezoelectric energy harvester, capable of collecting power at multiple operating frequencies and autonomously adapting itself to the dominant ambient frequencies. It consists of a compact dual-frequency resonator designed such that the first two fundamental natural [...] Read more.
In this paper, we present a novel vibration-based piezoelectric energy harvester, capable of collecting power at multiple operating frequencies and autonomously adapting itself to the dominant ambient frequencies. It consists of a compact dual-frequency resonator designed such that the first two fundamental natural frequencies are in the range of [50, 100] Hz, which is a typical frequency range for ambient vibrations in industrial environments. A magnetic frequency-tuning scheme is incorporated into the structure, which enables the frequency agility of the system. In contrast to single frequency harvesters, the presented approach combines multi-resonance and frequency tunability of both modes enabling a larger operative bandwidth. We experimentally demonstrate independent bi-directional tunability of our dual-frequency design. Furthermore, a control algorithm based on maximum amplitude tracking has been implemented for self-adaption of the system. The latter has been demonstrated in a system-level simulation model, which integrates the dual-frequency resonator, the magnetic tuning, and the control algorithm. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eurosensors 2018 Selected Papers)
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13 pages, 5306 KiB  
Article
A Thermal Flow Sensor Based on Printed Circuit Technology in Constant Temperature Mode for Various Fluids
by Thomas Glatzl, Roman Beigelbeck, Samir Cerimovic, Harald Steiner, Florian Wenig, Thilo Sauter, Albert Treytl and Franz Keplinger
Sensors 2019, 19(5), 1065; https://doi.org/10.3390/s19051065 - 02 Mar 2019
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3369
Abstract
We present a thermal flow sensor designed for measuring air as well as water flow velocities in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. The sensor is designed to integrate the flow along the entire diameter of the pipe also quantifying the volume [...] Read more.
We present a thermal flow sensor designed for measuring air as well as water flow velocities in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. The sensor is designed to integrate the flow along the entire diameter of the pipe also quantifying the volume flow rate of the streaming fluid where the calorimetric principle in constant temperature operation is utilized as a readout method. In the constant temperature mode, a controller keeps a specific excess temperature between sensing elements at a constant level resulting in a flow dependent heater voltage. To achieve cost-effective sensors, the fabrication of the transducer is fully based on printed circuit board technology allowing low-cost mass production with different form factors. In addition, 2D-FEM simulations were carried out in order to predict the sensor characteristic of envisaged setups. The simulation enables a fast and easy way to evaluate the sensor’s behaviour in different fluids. The results of the FEM simulations are compared to measurements in real environments, proving the credibility of the model. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eurosensors 2018 Selected Papers)
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9 pages, 6714 KiB  
Article
Impact of Conductive Yarns on an Embroidery Textile Moisture Sensor
by Marc Martínez-Estrada, Bahareh Moradi, Raúl Fernández-Garcia and Ignacio Gil
Sensors 2019, 19(5), 1004; https://doi.org/10.3390/s19051004 - 27 Feb 2019
Cited by 32 | Viewed by 4530
Abstract
In this work, two embroidered textile moisture sensors are characterized with three different conductive yarns. The sensors are based on a capacitive interdigitated structure embroidered on a cotton substrate with an embroidered conductor yarn. The performance comparison of three different type of conductive [...] Read more.
In this work, two embroidered textile moisture sensors are characterized with three different conductive yarns. The sensors are based on a capacitive interdigitated structure embroidered on a cotton substrate with an embroidered conductor yarn. The performance comparison of three different type of conductive yarns has been addressed. In order to evaluate the sensor sensitivity, the impedance of the sensor has been measured by means of an LCR meter from 20 Hz to 20 kHz on a climatic chamber with a sweep of the relative humidity from 30% to 65% at 20 °C. The experimental results show a clear and controllable dependence of the sensor impedance with the relative humidity and the chosen conductor yarns. This dependence points out the optimum conductive yarn to be used to develop wearable applications for moisture measurement. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eurosensors 2018 Selected Papers)
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11 pages, 2089 KiB  
Article
Fast Optical Humidity Sensor Based on Hydrogel Thin Film Expansion for Harsh Environment
by Anton Buchberger, Sebastian Peterka, Anna Maria Coclite and Alexander Bergmann
Sensors 2019, 19(5), 999; https://doi.org/10.3390/s19050999 - 26 Feb 2019
Cited by 29 | Viewed by 4747
Abstract
With the application of a recently developed deposition method called initiated chemical vapor deposition (iCVD), responsive hydrogel thin films in the order of a few hundred nanometers were created. When in contact with humid air, the hydrogel layer increases its thickness considerably. The [...] Read more.
With the application of a recently developed deposition method called initiated chemical vapor deposition (iCVD), responsive hydrogel thin films in the order of a few hundred nanometers were created. When in contact with humid air, the hydrogel layer increases its thickness considerably. The measurement of the thickness change was realized interferometrically with a laser and a broadband light source in two different implementations. The relative change in thickness with respect to humidity can be described with the Flory–Huggins theory. The required Flory–Huggins interaction parameter was determined for the actual hydrogel composition. The setup was designed without electric components in the vicinity of the active sensor layer and is therefore applicable in harsh environments such as explosive or corrosive ones. The implemented sensor prototype delivered reproducible relative humidity ( R H ) values and the achieved response time for an abrupt change of the humidity τ 63 ≤ 2.5 s was about three times faster compared to one of the fastest commercially available sensors on the market. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eurosensors 2018 Selected Papers)
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13 pages, 2500 KiB  
Article
Piezoresistive Hydrogel-Based Sensors for the Detection of Ammonia
by Jan Erfkamp, Margarita Guenther and Gerald Gerlach
Sensors 2019, 19(4), 971; https://doi.org/10.3390/s19040971 - 25 Feb 2019
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 5123
Abstract
Ammonia is an essential key compound in the chemical industry. However, excessively high ammonia concentrations can be harmful to the environment. Sensors for the detection of ammonia are therefore particularly important for environmental analysis. In this article, a novel hydrogel-based piezoresistive ammonia sensor [...] Read more.
Ammonia is an essential key compound in the chemical industry. However, excessively high ammonia concentrations can be harmful to the environment. Sensors for the detection of ammonia are therefore particularly important for environmental analysis. In this article, a novel hydrogel-based piezoresistive ammonia sensor is presented. In aqueous solution, ammonia reacts as a base. This alkaline pH change can be detected with stimuli-sensitive hydrogels. For such an application, highly sensitive hydrogels in the alkaline range with sufficient mechanical stability for the sensor application has to be developed. These conditions are fulfilled by the presented hydrogel system based on acrylic acid (AAc) and 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA). The hydrogel composition has a significant influence on the swelling behavior of the gel. Furthermore, the hydrogel swelling in ammonia solutions was tested and a detection limit in the range of 1 mmol/L ammonia depending on the buffer solution was determined. Ammonia-sensitive hydrogels can be used multiple times due to the repeatable swelling of the gel over several swelling cycles. To generate a measurable output voltage, the swelling pressure of ammonia-sensitive hydrogels were detected by using piezoresistive pressure sensors. All results of the free hydrogel swelling were verified in the sensor application. This low-cost ammonia sensor with a high sensitivity could be interesting for industrial chemical and biotechnological applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eurosensors 2018 Selected Papers)
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17 pages, 2837 KiB  
Article
Graphene-Based Ammonia Sensors Functionalised with Sub-Monolayer V2O5: A Comparative Study of Chemical Vapour Deposited and Epitaxial Graphene †
by Margus Kodu, Artjom Berholts, Tauno Kahro, Jens Eriksson, Rositsa Yakimova, Tea Avarmaa, Indrek Renge, Harry Alles and Raivo Jaaniso
Sensors 2019, 19(4), 951; https://doi.org/10.3390/s19040951 - 23 Feb 2019
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 3806
Abstract
Graphene in its pristine form has demonstrated a gas detection ability in an inert carrier gas. For practical use in ambient atmosphere, its sensor properties should be enhanced with functionalisation by defects and dopants, or by decoration with nanophases of metals or/and metal [...] Read more.
Graphene in its pristine form has demonstrated a gas detection ability in an inert carrier gas. For practical use in ambient atmosphere, its sensor properties should be enhanced with functionalisation by defects and dopants, or by decoration with nanophases of metals or/and metal oxides. Excellent sensor behaviour was found for two types of single layer graphenes: grown by chemical vapour deposition (CVD) and transferred onto oxidized silicon (Si/SiO2/CVDG), and the epitaxial graphene grown on SiC (SiC/EG). Both graphene samples were functionalised using a pulsed laser deposited (PLD) thin V2O5 layer of average thickness ≈ 0.6 nm. According to the Raman spectra, the SiC/EG has a remarkable resistance against structural damage under the laser deposition conditions. By contrast, the PLD process readily induces defects in CVD graphene. Both sensors showed remarkable and selective sensing of NH3 gas in terms of response amplitude and speed, as well as recovery rate. SiC/EG showed a response that was an order of magnitude larger as compared to similarly functionalised CVDG sensor (295% vs. 31% for 100 ppm NH3). The adsorption site properties are assigned to deposited V2O5 nanophase, being similar for both sensors, rather than (defect) graphene itself. The substantially larger response of SiC/EG sensor is probably the result of the smaller initial free charge carrier doping in EG. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eurosensors 2018 Selected Papers)
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11 pages, 3142 KiB  
Article
A Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) Waveguide Sensor that Mimics a Neuromast to Measure Fluid Flow Velocity
by Bianca Wiesmayr, Markus Höglinger, Michael Krieger, Philip Lindner, Werner Baumgartner and Anna T. Stadler
Sensors 2019, 19(4), 925; https://doi.org/10.3390/s19040925 - 22 Feb 2019
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3376
Abstract
Accurate flow measurement is a ubiquitous task in fields such as industry, medical technology, or chemistry; it remains however challenging due to small measurement ranges or erosive flows. Inspiration for possible measurement methods can come from nature, for example from the lateral line [...] Read more.
Accurate flow measurement is a ubiquitous task in fields such as industry, medical technology, or chemistry; it remains however challenging due to small measurement ranges or erosive flows. Inspiration for possible measurement methods can come from nature, for example from the lateral line organ of fish, which is comprised of hair cells embedded in a gelatinous cupula. When the cupula is deflected by water movement, the hair cells generate neural signals from which the fish gains an accurate representation of its environment. We built a flow sensor mimicking a hair cell, but coupled it with an optical detection method. Light is coupled into a PDMS waveguide that consists of a core and a cladding with a low refractive index contrast to ensure high bending sensitivity. Fluid flow bends the waveguide; this leads to a measurable light loss. The design of our sensory system allows flow measurement in opaque and corrosive fluids while keeping production costs low. To prove the measurement concept, we evaluated the light loss while (a) reproducibly bending the fiber with masses, and (b) exposing the fiber to air flow. The results demonstrate the applicability of an optical fiber as a flow sensor. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eurosensors 2018 Selected Papers)
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9 pages, 2201 KiB  
Article
Graphene Decorated with Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Highly Sensitive Interaction with Volatile Organic Compounds
by Marius Rodner, Donatella Puglisi, Sebastian Ekeroth, Ulf Helmersson, Ivan Shtepliuk, Rositsa Yakimova, Andreas Skallberg, Kajsa Uvdal, Andreas Schütze and Jens Eriksson
Sensors 2019, 19(4), 918; https://doi.org/10.3390/s19040918 - 22 Feb 2019
Cited by 27 | Viewed by 4820
Abstract
Gases, such as nitrogen dioxide, formaldehyde and benzene, are toxic even at very low concentrations. However, so far there are no low-cost sensors available with sufficiently low detection limits and desired response times, which are able to detect them in the ranges relevant [...] Read more.
Gases, such as nitrogen dioxide, formaldehyde and benzene, are toxic even at very low concentrations. However, so far there are no low-cost sensors available with sufficiently low detection limits and desired response times, which are able to detect them in the ranges relevant for air quality control. In this work, we address both, detection of small gas amounts and fast response times, using epitaxially grown graphene decorated with iron oxide nanoparticles. This hybrid surface is used as a sensing layer to detect formaldehyde and benzene at concentrations of relevance (low parts per billion). The performance enhancement was additionally validated using density functional theory calculations to see the effect of decoration on binding energies between the gas molecules and the sensor surface. Moreover, the time constants can be drastically reduced using a derivative sensor signal readout, allowing the sensor to work at detection limits and sampling rates desired for air quality monitoring applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eurosensors 2018 Selected Papers)
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12 pages, 4684 KiB  
Article
Strategy toward Miniaturized, Self-out-Readable Resonant Cantilever and Integrated Electrostatic Microchannel Separator for Highly Sensitive Airborne Nanoparticle Detection
by Maik Bertke, Jiushuai Xu, Michael Fahrbach, Andi Setiono, Hutomo Suryo Wasisto and Erwin Peiner
Sensors 2019, 19(4), 901; https://doi.org/10.3390/s19040901 - 21 Feb 2019
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3928
Abstract
In this paper, a self-out-readable, miniaturized cantilever resonator for highly sensitive airborne nanoparticle (NP) detection is presented. The cantilever, which is operated in the fundamental in-plane resonance mode, is used as a microbalance with femtogram resolution. To maximize sensitivity and read-out signal amplitude [...] Read more.
In this paper, a self-out-readable, miniaturized cantilever resonator for highly sensitive airborne nanoparticle (NP) detection is presented. The cantilever, which is operated in the fundamental in-plane resonance mode, is used as a microbalance with femtogram resolution. To maximize sensitivity and read-out signal amplitude of the piezo-resistive Wheatstone half bridge, the geometric parameters of the sensor design are optimized by finite element modelling (FEM). The electrical read-out of the cantilever movement is realized by piezo-resistive struts at the sides of the cantilever resonator that enable real-time tracking using a phase-locked loop (PLL) circuit. Cantilevers with minimum resonator mass of 1.72 ng and resonance frequency of ~440 kHz were fabricated, providing a theoretical sensitivity of 7.8 fg/Hz. In addition, for electrostatic NP collection, the cantilever has a negative-biased electrode located at its free end. Moreover, the counter-electrode surrounding the cantilever and a µ-channel, guiding the particle-laden air flow towards the cantilever, are integrated with the sensor chip. µ-channels and varying sampling voltages will also be used to accomplish particle separation for size-selective NP detection. To sum up, the presented airborne NP sensor is expected to demonstrate significant improvements in the field of handheld, micro-/nanoelectromechanical systems (M/NEMS)-based NP monitoring devices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eurosensors 2018 Selected Papers)
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15 pages, 4180 KiB  
Article
E-Skin Bimodal Sensors for Robotics and Prosthesis Using PDMS Molds Engraved by Laser
by Andreia dos Santos, Nuno Pinela, Pedro Alves, Rodrigo Santos, Ricardo Farinha, Elvira Fortunato, Rodrigo Martins, Hugo Águas and Rui Igreja
Sensors 2019, 19(4), 899; https://doi.org/10.3390/s19040899 - 21 Feb 2019
Cited by 25 | Viewed by 5866
Abstract
Electronic skin (e-skin) is pursued as a key component in robotics and prosthesis to confer them sensing properties that mimic human skin. For pressure monitoring, a great emphasis on piezoresistive sensors was registered due to the simplicity of sensor design and readout mechanism. [...] Read more.
Electronic skin (e-skin) is pursued as a key component in robotics and prosthesis to confer them sensing properties that mimic human skin. For pressure monitoring, a great emphasis on piezoresistive sensors was registered due to the simplicity of sensor design and readout mechanism. For higher sensitivity, films composing these sensors may be micro-structured, usually by expensive photolithography techniques or low-cost and low-customizable molds. Sensors commonly present different sensitivities in different pressure ranges, which should be avoided in robotics and prosthesis applications. The combination of pressure sensing and temperature is also relevant for the field and has room for improvement. This work proposes an alternative approach for film micro-structuration based on the production of highly customizable and low-cost molds through laser engraving. These bimodal e-skin piezoresistive and temperature sensors could achieve a stable sensitivity of −6.4 × 10−3 kPa−1 from 1.6 kPa to 100 kPa, with a very robust and reproducible performance over 27,500 cycles of objects grasping and releasing and an exceptionally high temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) of 8.3%/°C. These results point toward the versatility and high benefit/cost ratio of the laser engraving technique to produce sensors with a suitable performance for robotics and functional prosthesis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eurosensors 2018 Selected Papers)
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12 pages, 7710 KiB  
Article
Ammonia Distribution Measurement on a Hot Gas Test Bench Applying Tomographical Optical Methods
by Bernhard Fischbacher, Bernhard Lechner and Bernhard Brandstätter
Sensors 2019, 19(4), 896; https://doi.org/10.3390/s19040896 - 21 Feb 2019
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3813
Abstract
Measuring the distribution of gas concentration is a very common problem in a variety of technological fields. Depending on the detectability of the gas, as well as the technological progress of the sector, different methods are used. In this paper, we present a [...] Read more.
Measuring the distribution of gas concentration is a very common problem in a variety of technological fields. Depending on the detectability of the gas, as well as the technological progress of the sector, different methods are used. In this paper, we present a device and methods to detect the ammonia concentration distribution in the exhaust system of diesel engines in order to increase the performance of the exhaust aftertreatment system. The device has been designed for usage on a hot gas test bench simulating exhaust gas conditions. It consists of multiple optical beams measuring ammonia line concentrations by applying nondispersive absorption spectroscopy in the deep ultraviolet region. The detectors consist of photodiodes allowing high sampling rates up to 3 kHz while providing a high signal-to-noise ratio. A detection limit of only 1 ppm has been achieved despite the short path length of only eight centimeters. The obtained line concentrations form an inverse problem. The methodology of the tomographic techniques is described in detail in order to best solve the inverse problem and obtain the ammonia concentration distribution images for each time step. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eurosensors 2018 Selected Papers)
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10 pages, 1098 KiB  
Article
Artificial Landmarks for Trusted Localization of Autonomous Vehicles Based on Magnetic Sensors
by Tobias Mitterer, Harald Gietler, Lisa-Marie Faller and Hubert Zangl
Sensors 2019, 19(4), 813; https://doi.org/10.3390/s19040813 - 16 Feb 2019
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4189
Abstract
Magnetic sensors provide an advantageous alternative localization method, primarily focusing on localization in surroundings where GPS, other radio frequency-based, as well as optical localization do not work or has severe limitations. Suitable for distances in the meter range, such magnetic localization may in [...] Read more.
Magnetic sensors provide an advantageous alternative localization method, primarily focusing on localization in surroundings where GPS, other radio frequency-based, as well as optical localization do not work or has severe limitations. Suitable for distances in the meter range, such magnetic localization may in particular be useful as artificial landmarks, e.g., for automatic drift correction. To easily use such artificial landmarks, we propose an integration process based on Transducer Electronic Data Sheets. With this approach, the landmarks can be used by passing autonomous vehicles, e.g., UAVs, for re-orientation and re-calibration. During this process, all necessary information such as data formats, reference coordinates, calibration data, provider of the landmark etc. is made known to the vehicle passing by. Based on the provided so-called meta-information, the vehicle itself can decide whether and how to use the provided sensory information. To provide a certain level of trust in the landmarks and their provided information, the corresponding data sheets are certified using a digital signature. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eurosensors 2018 Selected Papers)
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11 pages, 2425 KiB  
Article
Responses of a Resistive Soot Sensor to Different Mono-Disperse Soot Aerosols
by Adrien Reynaud, Mickaël Leblanc, Stéphane Zinola, Philippe Breuil and Jean-Paul Viricelle
Sensors 2019, 19(3), 705; https://doi.org/10.3390/s19030705 - 09 Feb 2019
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3711
Abstract
Since 2011, the Euro 5b European standard limits the particle number (PN) emissions in addition to the particulate mass (PM) emissions. New thermal engine equipped vehicles also have to auto-diagnose their own particulate filter (Diesel particulate filter or gasoil particulate filter) using on-board [...] Read more.
Since 2011, the Euro 5b European standard limits the particle number (PN) emissions in addition to the particulate mass (PM) emissions. New thermal engine equipped vehicles also have to auto-diagnose their own particulate filter (Diesel particulate filter or gasoil particulate filter) using on-board diagnostic (OBD) sensors. Accumulative resistive soot sensors seem to be good candidates for PM measurements. The aim of this study is to bring more comprehension about soot microstructures construction in order to link the response of such a sensor to particle size and concentration. The sensor sensitivity to the particle size has been studied using successively an electrostatic and an aerodynamic classification, showing the same trend. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eurosensors 2018 Selected Papers)
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11 pages, 2987 KiB  
Article
Seat Occupancy Detection Based on a Low-Power Microcontroller and a Single FSR
by Ernesto Sifuentes, Rafael Gonzalez-Landaeta, Juan Cota-Ruiz and Ferran Reverter
Sensors 2019, 19(3), 699; https://doi.org/10.3390/s19030699 - 08 Feb 2019
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 7861
Abstract
This paper proposes a microcontroller-based measurement system to detect and confirm the presence of a subject in a chair. The system relies on a single Force Sensing Resistor (FSR), which is arranged in the seat of the chair, that undergoes a sudden resistance [...] Read more.
This paper proposes a microcontroller-based measurement system to detect and confirm the presence of a subject in a chair. The system relies on a single Force Sensing Resistor (FSR), which is arranged in the seat of the chair, that undergoes a sudden resistance change when a subject/object is seated/placed over the chair. In order to distinguish between a subject and an inanimate object, the system also monitors small-signal variations of the FSR resistance caused by respiration. These resistance variations are then directly measured by a low-cost general-purpose microcontroller unit (MCU) without using either an analogue processing stage or an analogue-to-digital converter. Two versions of such a MCU-based circuit are presented: one to prove the concept of the measurement, and another with a smart wake-up (generated by the sudden resistance change) intended to reduce the energy consumption. The feasibility of the proposed measurement system is experimentally demonstrated with subjects of different weight sitting at different postures, and also with objects of different weight. The MCU-based circuit with a smart wake-up shows a standby current consumption of 800 nA, and requires an energy of 125 µJ to carry out the measurement after the wake-up. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eurosensors 2018 Selected Papers)
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11 pages, 2153 KiB  
Article
In-Situ Temperature Measurement on CMOS Integrated Micro-Hotplates for Gas Sensing Devices
by Marco Deluca, Robert Wimmer-Teubenbacher, Lisa Mitterhuber, Johanna Mader, Karl Rohracher, Marco Holzer and Anton Köck
Sensors 2019, 19(3), 672; https://doi.org/10.3390/s19030672 - 07 Feb 2019
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3670
Abstract
Metal oxide gas sensors generally need to be operated at elevated temperatures, up to and above 400 °C. Following the need for miniaturization of gas sensors and implementation into smart devices such as smartphones or wireless sensor nodes, recently complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) process-based [...] Read more.
Metal oxide gas sensors generally need to be operated at elevated temperatures, up to and above 400 °C. Following the need for miniaturization of gas sensors and implementation into smart devices such as smartphones or wireless sensor nodes, recently complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) process-based micro electromechanical system (MEMS) platforms (micro-hotplates, µhps) have been developed to provide Joule heating of metal oxide sensing structures on the microscale. Heating precision and possible spatial temperature distributions over the µhp are key issues potentially affecting the performance of the overall gas sensor device. In this work, we use Raman spectroscopy to directly (in-situ and in-operando) measure the temperature of CMOS-based µhps during the application of electric current for Joule heating. By monitoring the position of the Raman mode of silicon and applying the theoretical framework of anharmonic phonon softening, we demonstrate that state-of-the-art µhps are able to reach the set temperature with an error below 10%, albeit with significant spatial temperature variations on the hotplate. This work demonstrates the potential of Raman spectroscopy for in-situ and in-operando temperature measurements on Si-based devices, an aspect of high relevance for micro- and nano-electronic device producers, opening new possibilities in process and device control. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eurosensors 2018 Selected Papers)
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11 pages, 4453 KiB  
Article
Enthalpy-Sensing Microsystem Effective in Continuous Flow
by Taoufik Mhammedi, Lionel Camberlein, Frédéric Polet, Bruno Bêche and Etienne Gaviot
Sensors 2019, 19(3), 566; https://doi.org/10.3390/s19030566 - 29 Jan 2019
Viewed by 2709
Abstract
A new microsystem designed to detect and measure in real time the enthalpy of mixing of two fluid constituents is presented. A preliminary approach to quantify the enthalpy of dilution values or mixing is first discussed. Then, a coherent rationale leading to structure [...] Read more.
A new microsystem designed to detect and measure in real time the enthalpy of mixing of two fluid constituents is presented. A preliminary approach to quantify the enthalpy of dilution values or mixing is first discussed. Then, a coherent rationale leading to structure devices operating in real time is formulated, considering the straightforward assessment of heat-flux transducers (HFTs) capability. Basic thermodynamic observations regarding the analogy between thermal and electrical systems are highlighted prior consideration of practical examples involving mixing water and alcohols. Fundamentals about HFT design are highlighted before presenting an adequate way to integrate both functions of mixing and measuring the entailed heat exchange as two continuously flowing fluids interact with one another. Thereby, the development of a relevant prototype of such a dedicated microsystem is discussed. Its design, fabrication and implementation under real operating conditions are presented together with its assessed performance and limits so as to highlight the advantages and shortcomings of the concept. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eurosensors 2018 Selected Papers)
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11 pages, 8285 KiB  
Article
Dual Resonator MEMS Magnetic Field Gradiometer
by Matthias Kahr, Michael Stifter, Harald Steiner, Wilfried Hortschitz, Gabor Kovács, Andreas Kainz, Johannes Schalko and Franz Keplinger
Sensors 2019, 19(3), 493; https://doi.org/10.3390/s19030493 - 25 Jan 2019
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 5216
Abstract
Accurate knowledge of the spatial magnetic field distribution is necessary when measuring field gradients. Therefore, a MEMS magnetic field gradiometer is reported, consisting of two identical, but independent laterally oscillating masses on a single chip. The sensor is actuated by Lorentz force and [...] Read more.
Accurate knowledge of the spatial magnetic field distribution is necessary when measuring field gradients. Therefore, a MEMS magnetic field gradiometer is reported, consisting of two identical, but independent laterally oscillating masses on a single chip. The sensor is actuated by Lorentz force and read out by modulation of the light flux passing through stationary and moving arrays of the chip. This optical readout decouples the transducer from the electronic components. Both phase and intensity are recorded which reveals information about the uniformity of the magnetic field. The magnetic flux density is measured simultaneously at two points in space and the field gradient is evaluated locally. The sensor was characterised at ambient pressure by performing frequency and magnitude response measurements with coil and various different permanent magnet arrangements, resulting in a responsivity of 35.67 V/T and detection limit of 3.07 µT/ Hz (@ 83 Hz ENBW). The sensor is compact, offers a large dynamic measurement range and can be of low-cost by using conventional MEMS batch fabrication technology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eurosensors 2018 Selected Papers)
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14 pages, 6630 KiB  
Article
Wafer-Level-Based Open-Circuit Sensitivity Model from Theoretical ALEM and Empirical OSCM Parameters for a Capacitive MEMS Acoustic Sensor
by Jaewoo Lee, Jong-Pil Im, Jeong-Hun Kim, Sol-Yee Lim and Seung-Eon Moon
Sensors 2019, 19(3), 488; https://doi.org/10.3390/s19030488 - 25 Jan 2019
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 4476
Abstract
We present a simple, accurate open-circuit sensitivity model based on both analytically calculated lumped and empirically extracted lumped-parameters that enables a capacitive acoustic sensor to be efficiently characterized in the frequency domain at the wafer level. Our mixed model is mainly composed of [...] Read more.
We present a simple, accurate open-circuit sensitivity model based on both analytically calculated lumped and empirically extracted lumped-parameters that enables a capacitive acoustic sensor to be efficiently characterized in the frequency domain at the wafer level. Our mixed model is mainly composed of two key strategies: the approximately linearized electric-field method (ALEM) and the open- and short-calibration method (OSCM). Analytical ALEM can separate the intrinsic capacitance from the capacitance of the acoustic sensor itself, while empirical OSCM, on the basis of one additional test sample excluding the membrane, can extract the capacitance value of the active part from the entire sensor chip. FEM simulation verified the validity of the model within an error range of 2% in the unit cell. Dynamic open-circuit sensitivity is modelled from lumped parameters based on the equivalent electrical circuit, leading to a modelled resonance frequency under a bias condition. Thus, eliminating a complex read-out integrated circuit (ROIC) integration process, this mixed model not only simplifies the characterization process, but also improves the accuracy of the sensitivity because it considers the fringing field effect between the diaphragm and each etching hole in the back plate. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eurosensors 2018 Selected Papers)
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13 pages, 3227 KiB  
Article
Characterization of a Robust 3D- and Inkjet-Printed Capacitive Position Sensor for a Spectrometer Application
by Lisa-Marie Faller, Martin Lenzhofer, Christina Hirschl, Martin Kraft and Hubert Zangl
Sensors 2019, 19(3), 443; https://doi.org/10.3390/s19030443 - 22 Jan 2019
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3838
Abstract
An inkjet- and 3D-printed capacitive sensor system with an all-digital and flexible sensor read-out hardware is reported. It enables spectrometer devices with significantly reduced device outlines and costs. The sensor is developed as multilayer inkjet-printed electrode structure on a 3D-printed copper housing. Very [...] Read more.
An inkjet- and 3D-printed capacitive sensor system with an all-digital and flexible sensor read-out hardware is reported. It enables spectrometer devices with significantly reduced device outlines and costs. The sensor is developed as multilayer inkjet-printed electrode structure on a 3D-printed copper housing. Very high required position resolutions of r e s p o s < 50 nm and a wide measurement range of r m = 1000 μ m at an offset of d 0 = 1000 μ m in the considered spectrometers motivate this work. The read-out hardware provides high sampling rates of up to r s ≈ 10 ns and enables the generation of trigger signals, i.e., the mirror control signal, without a time lag. The read-out circuitry is designed as a carrier frequency system, which enables flexible choices of bandwidth and measurement signal frequency. It thus allows for separation in frequency from coupling parasitics, i.e., other frequencies present in the device under test, and makes the read-out quasi-noise-immune. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eurosensors 2018 Selected Papers)
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9 pages, 2976 KiB  
Article
Screen-Printed, Pure Carbon-Black Thermocouple Fabrication and Seebeck Coefficients
by Christina Offenzeller, Marcel Knoll, Bernhard Jakoby and Wolfgang Hilber
Sensors 2019, 19(2), 403; https://doi.org/10.3390/s19020403 - 19 Jan 2019
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 5236
Abstract
Thermocouples classically consist of two metals or semiconductor components that are joined at one end, where temperature is measured. Carbon black is a low-cost semiconductor with a Seebeck coefficient that depends on the structure of the carbon particles. Different carbon black screen-printing inks [...] Read more.
Thermocouples classically consist of two metals or semiconductor components that are joined at one end, where temperature is measured. Carbon black is a low-cost semiconductor with a Seebeck coefficient that depends on the structure of the carbon particles. Different carbon black screen-printing inks generally exhibit different Seebeck coefficients, and two can therefore be combined to realize a thermocouple. In this work, we used a set of four different commercially available carbon-black screen-printing inks to print all-carbon-black thermocouples. The outputs of these thermocouples were characterized and their Seebeck coefficients determined. We found that the outputs of pure carbon-black thermocouples are reasonably stable, linear, and quantitatively comparable to those of commercially available R- or S-type thermocouples. It is thus possible to fabricate thermocouples by an easily scalable, cost-efficient process that combines two low-cost materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eurosensors 2018 Selected Papers)
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14 pages, 2096 KiB  
Article
Improved Sensing Capability of Integrated Semiconducting Metal Oxide Gas Sensor Devices
by Ayoub Lahlalia, Olivier Le Neel, Ravi Shankar, Siegfried Selberherr and Lado Filipovic
Sensors 2019, 19(2), 374; https://doi.org/10.3390/s19020374 - 17 Jan 2019
Cited by 22 | Viewed by 4722
Abstract
Semiconducting metal oxide (SMO) gas sensors were designed, fabricated, and characterized in terms of their sensing capability and the thermo-mechanical behavior of the micro-hotplate. The sensors demonstrate high sensitivity at low concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at a low power consumption of [...] Read more.
Semiconducting metal oxide (SMO) gas sensors were designed, fabricated, and characterized in terms of their sensing capability and the thermo-mechanical behavior of the micro-hotplate. The sensors demonstrate high sensitivity at low concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at a low power consumption of 10.5 mW. In addition, the sensors realize fast response and recovery times of 20 s and 2.3 min, respectively. To further improve the baseline stability and sensing response characteristics at low power consumption, a novel sensor is conceived of and proposed. Tantalum aluminum (TaAl) is used as a microheater, whereas Pt-doped SnO2 is used as a thin film sensing layer. Both layers were deposited on top of a porous silicon nitride membrane. In this paper, two designs are characterized by simulations and experimental measurements, and the results are comparatively reported. Simultaneously, the impact of a heat pulsing mode and rubber smartphone cases on the sensing performance of the gas sensor are highlighted. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eurosensors 2018 Selected Papers)
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11 pages, 5556 KiB  
Article
V2O5 Thin Films as Nitrogen Dioxide Sensors †
by Krystyna Schneider and Wojciech Maziarz
Sensors 2018, 18(12), 4177; https://doi.org/10.3390/s18124177 - 28 Nov 2018
Cited by 35 | Viewed by 5032
Abstract
Vanadium pentoxide thin films were deposited onto insulating support by means of rf reactive sputtering from a metallic vanadium target. Argon-oxygen gas mixtures of different compositions controlled by the flow rates were used for sputtering. X-ray diffraction at glancing incidence (GIXD) and Scanning [...] Read more.
Vanadium pentoxide thin films were deposited onto insulating support by means of rf reactive sputtering from a metallic vanadium target. Argon-oxygen gas mixtures of different compositions controlled by the flow rates were used for sputtering. X-ray diffraction at glancing incidence (GIXD) and Scanning Electronic Microscopy (SEM) were used for structural and phase characterization. Thickness of the films was determined by the profilometry. It has been confirmed by GIXD that the deposited films are composed of V2O5 phase. The gas sensing properties of V2O5 thin films were investigated at temperatures from range 410–617 K upon NO2 gas of 4–20 ppm. The investigated material exhibited good response and reversibility towards nitrogen dioxide. The effect of metal-insulator transition (MIT) on sensor performance has been observed and discussed for the first time. It was found that a considerable increase of the sensor sensitivity occured above 545 K, which is related to postulated metal-insulator transition. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eurosensors 2018 Selected Papers)
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