The network of pores at the molecular scale makes nanoporous materials a sponge for gases. Due to specific adsorption properties they are suitable candidates for sensors of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Detection of these is essential in monitoring air polluting levels, food freshness, and disease diagnostics via breath analysis. The main challenge of the existing technology is the poor selectivity of sensors since they usually cannot distinguish between the target and the interfering molecule. A viable alternative are sensors based on nanoporous metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) since MOF pores have a well-defined chemical environment. Moreover, MOFs exhibit record high internal surface area that is available for specific adsorption of target molecules.
The PhD candidate will study the integration of MOFs into highly sensitive and selective sensors of VOCs. The emphasis will be on exploiting a huge difference in diffusion rates of various organic molecules in MOFs, which can be used for differentiation of molecules. This is a new concept of multivariable sensing, which offers several key advantages over the conventional sensing methods. To explore the concept of diffusion-based sensing, a unique new experimental setup was established at Condensed Matter Physics department which allows measurements of adsorption and diffusion in nanoporous thin films.
The candidate will be involved in the ongoing research and project in the field of sensing of VOCs, including analysing the exhaled breath of the patients for detection of cancer. The main objectives of the doctoral dissertation are the synthesis of selected MOF thin films with high-throughput methods, extensive structural characterisation using modern methods, thin-film integration into microelectronic sensor elements and measurement of sensor response to target analyte molecules.
The PhD position is perfect for an enthusiastic candidate who enjoys research challenges, wants to achieve personal growth, and likes working in a team of young professionals.