Optical sensor for CO2 monitoring by means of a nanostructurated porous silicon substrate.

Kurzfassung

An Italian SME, focused on industrial research, developed and tested an optical CO2 sensor characterized by a nanostructurated porous silicon substrate (modified NDIR method) for indoor and outdoor applications. This sensor can offer a better selectivity, even at low gas concentrations, than the most of commercial carbon dioxide sensors. The company is looking for technical co-operation with academic/industrial partners available to customize the prototype and to adapt it to specific needs.

Details

An Italian SME, focused on industrial research, precompetitive research, prototypisation and process innovation has developed and tested innovative optical sensors, characterized by a nanostructurated porous silicon substrate for the environmental monitoring.
The company, on the market since its foundation in 2005, presents itself as a qualified actor for the sensor technologies research.
In particular it developed expertises in:
<li> microrobotic and process engineering </li>
<li> nanotechnologies </li>
<li> wireless networks and communication protocols </li>
<li> sensoristics for indoor and outdoor applications </li>
<li> energy saving techniques </li>
This CO2 sensor is based on NDIR method to detect the gas; the classical method was modified by using an optical porous silicon structure as filter.
This let the sensor be more selective and sensitive than other CO2 commercial sensors.
The technology can be applied to the realization of a large range of different gas sensors (e.g. NO2, CH4, CO, SO2, benzene, NH3, etc.), that can be used in a lot of application fields.
Another interesting feature is that this technology is cheap and let customers project a "monitoring network" easily and more efficiently than the commercial solutions, available at the moment; even choosing which kind of alimentation and data transmission system.
Actually the SME is interested in expanding its activities, through commercial agreements and technical co-operation with academic/industrial partners available to customize the prototype and to adapt it to specific needs.

Innovative Aspects:
Innovative Aspects of the Offer:
Sensor technologies;
Control electronic of sensor microsystem;
Interface on “general purpose” level;
Communication system;
System prototipe of communication and final integration.
Main advantages of the Offer:
This technology can be used to detect other gases, just opportunely tuning the porous silicon substrate.
It is also cheap and can be used to project a more efficient monitoring network for environmental or safety purposes.