Sensor Applications
In addition to using fundamental science to explore novel sensing concepts, we emphasize instrumental development of these techniques to a prototype level, and their application in real-world environments ranging from environmental monitoring, deep-sea analysis of volatile organics, and process control, to clinically applicable diagnostic and biosensing devices.
IR chemical sensors have been developed for continuous water quality monitoring (e.g. aromatic and chlorinated hydrocarbons), process control of bleaching bath solutions, and most recently for in-vitro/in-vivo detection of atherosclerotic plaque at blood vessels.
A new generation of electrochemical microsensors to facilitate biomedical research is currently in development. Amperometric microbiosensors are applied for the in-vitro detection of ATP release at the surface of epithelial cell patches (→ cystic fibrosis) and superfused carotid body preparations (→ oxygen tension). Recently, a concept for DNA microgenosensors was introduced for rapid disease detection in bodily fluids (→ hepatitis C).
Ongoing Projects:
- IR chemical sensors for water quality monitoring
- Gas hydrate analysis with IR spectroscopy
- IR Process monitoring in harsh environments
- IR ATR catheter for in-vivo diagnostics of atherosclerotic plaque
- FT-IR based hollow waveguide sensors for volatile organics
- Amperometric ATP microbiosensors
- Electrochemical DNA microgenosensors
