Sensor Setups
Pia Sjöberg , D.Sc (Tech.), Senior Researcher
Research area
Chemical sensing involves both molecular recognition and subsequent signal transduction as
can be seen in Figure 1.
Figure 1. The basic working principle of a chemical sensor.
The development of new chemical sensors and sensing setups is, hence, closely related to the development of new functional materials for both molecular recognition and subsequent signal transduction.
The current developments in process, environmental and clinical analysis has led to a need for maintenance-free, robust and reliable sensors for different ions and molecules. The need for on-site analysis of environmental samples, point-of-care analysis of clinical samples and the continuous development of other diagnostics and health-care applications, calls for sensors that are easy to handle and can be used in small portable units.
Miniaturization and mass-production of reliable sensors with suitable price range is
also of great importance. Miniaturization of sensors can be realized, for example, by making
all-solid-state sensors, without any liquid components within the sensor structure. In this approach,
the use of different conducting polymers, as shown in Figure 2, both in the sensing and in the
transducing parts, has been thoroughly studied.
Figure 2. Examples of electrically conducting polymers.
Another alternative is to manufacture sensors by using printing technologies. This opens up
new avenues for mass-producible, low cost sensor setups that can be used in the framework of
printed electronics. As with other, more conventional sensor constructions, a careful
characterization and optimization of the key features of the printed sensors is of utmost
importance.
Figure 3. Electrochemical characterization of a sensor setup.
