Action group: SENSORS ASAP

The two most important qualities of a gas sensor are its sensitivity (defined as the capability of sensing ever smaller amounts of a given compound) and its selectivity (the ability to respond only, or at least predominantly, to certain components in a mixture, and not to others). It is clear that the progress achieved during the last decade in terms of sensitivity has been outstanding, with ultra-sensitive ^nanoelectromecanical devices (NEMS) now reaching attogram level resolution. However, comparable advances have not been achieved regarding sensor selectivity, and therefore the sensing of a specific component in a gas mixture where other components may interfere still remains a challenging task. This is especially important given the increasing demand for sensors capable of discriminate specific components in complex mixtures, and has prompted a strong research effort in this direction. Very recent examples of investigations addressed to the development of sensor systems capable of analysing mixtures in the food, safety/security, health, process control and environmental monitoring fields can easily be found in the literature.

Sensors based on MEMS technologies and smart sensors are at the focus of the current sensor development. Only MEMS technologies make it possible to mass produce sensors more and more cost-effectively while improving their functionality and miniaturizing them. Current sensors are bulky, need interdisciplinary know-how of physics, chemistry, analog and digital electronics and software development in order to design a product. Certainly the required knowledge is too wide and complex for most systems engineers.
This action group clusters researchers from the University of Zaragoza and Public University of Navarre.