Summary
The demand for highly sensitive trace gas detection down to part-per-billion (ppb) levels and exceptional selectivity is paramount across various fields, including environmental monitoring, industrial process control, and healthcare. Currently, such capabilities are only accessible through bulky and expensive high-end sensors, limiting their use primarily to research settings. However, the ERC Starting Grant project sCENT has recently achieved a significant breakthrough by demonstrating the first chip-scale sensor capable of ppb-level detection and selectivity equivalent to that of high-end instruments. These sensors merge the strengths of high-end commercial spectroscopic systems, offering sensitivity, selectivity, isotope detection capability, and long-term stability, while also being compact, lightweight, and requiring only microlitre sample volumes. This success was possible due to a pioneering waveguide design supporting air-like modes, demonstrated within the ERC Starting Grant sCENT.
The current project aims to explore the disruptive innovation potential of the sCENT sensor concept, advancing it from a proof-of-concept to the next level of technological readiness. This entails (i) the development of a prototype module and (ii) its real-life application demonstration to study the metabolic emissions of methane-consuming bacteria native to permafrost soils.
Additionally, the project encompasses crucial aspects such as IP protection management, monitoring target markets (primarily environmental intelligence), and designing a technology roadmap for the sensor's exploitation. Outreach activities are meticulously planned to promote the sensors to potential commercial partners, end-users, and stakeholders. The overarching vision for the sCENT sensor is to unlock new opportunities for large-scale in-situ gas monitoring with unparalleled data density, ultimately enhancing our capabilities for environmental intelligence in the face of our evolving climate.
The current project aims to explore the disruptive innovation potential of the sCENT sensor concept, advancing it from a proof-of-concept to the next level of technological readiness. This entails (i) the development of a prototype module and (ii) its real-life application demonstration to study the metabolic emissions of methane-consuming bacteria native to permafrost soils.
Additionally, the project encompasses crucial aspects such as IP protection management, monitoring target markets (primarily environmental intelligence), and designing a technology roadmap for the sensor's exploitation. Outreach activities are meticulously planned to promote the sensors to potential commercial partners, end-users, and stakeholders. The overarching vision for the sCENT sensor is to unlock new opportunities for large-scale in-situ gas monitoring with unparalleled data density, ultimately enhancing our capabilities for environmental intelligence in the face of our evolving climate.
Unfold all
/
Fold all
More information & hyperlinks
| Web resources: | https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101158155 |
| Start date: | 01-04-2024 |
| End date: | 30-09-2025 |
| Total budget - Public funding: | - 150 000,00 Euro |
Cordis data
Original description
The demand for highly sensitive trace gas detection down to part-per-billion (ppb) levels and exceptional selectivity is paramount across various fields, including environmental monitoring, industrial process control, and healthcare. Currently, such capabilities are only accessible through bulky and expensive high-end sensors, limiting their use primarily to research settings. However, the ERC Starting Grant project sCENT has recently achieved a significant breakthrough by demonstrating the first chip-scale sensor capable of ppb-level detection and selectivity equivalent to that of high-end instruments. These sensors merge the strengths of high-end commercial spectroscopic systems, offering sensitivity, selectivity, isotope detection capability, and long-term stability, while also being compact, lightweight, and requiring only microlitre sample volumes. This success was possible due to a pioneering waveguide design supporting air-like modes, demonstrated within the ERC Starting Grant sCENT.The current project aims to explore the disruptive innovation potential of the sCENT sensor concept, advancing it from a proof-of-concept to the next level of technological readiness. This entails (i) the development of a prototype module and (ii) its real-life application demonstration to study the metabolic emissions of methane-consuming bacteria native to permafrost soils.
Additionally, the project encompasses crucial aspects such as IP protection management, monitoring target markets (primarily environmental intelligence), and designing a technology roadmap for the sensor's exploitation. Outreach activities are meticulously planned to promote the sensors to potential commercial partners, end-users, and stakeholders. The overarching vision for the sCENT sensor is to unlock new opportunities for large-scale in-situ gas monitoring with unparalleled data density, ultimately enhancing our capabilities for environmental intelligence in the face of our evolving climate.
Status
SIGNEDCall topic
ERC-2023-POCUpdate Date
12-03-2024
Images
No images available.
Geographical location(s)
Search
