Advanced Material Development recently announced a new InnovateUK Analysis 4 Innovators grant to work on validating its next generation novel nanomaterial-based gas sensors. AMD is working with the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) on the development and testing of devices using advanced testing equipment, and measurement and analysis experience.
The next generation of air quality monitors will rely on low power sensing elements which can be connected remotely to support more detailed and localized emissions monitoring. This three-month project seeks to validate novel nanomaterial-based sensors which AMD has recently developed utilizing its functionalized nanomaterials. For instance, AMD's Photonic Crystal work incorporates various nanomaterials into the polymeric structure, of which graphene is the main constituent.
One of the key challenges is creating sensors which are sensitive and selective enough to the pollution levels involved. Through the careful use of functionalized materials and complex signal analysis, AMD will be able to validate these novel sensor systems. Through the support of the National Physical Laboratory and through a collaboration with Dr. Nick Martin - a Principal Research Scientist and Science Area Leader of the AirQuality and Aerosol Metrology (AQAM) Group and InnovateUK’s Analysis4 Innovators program, the use of specialist exposure chamber facilities can be used to carefully test sensors under controlled conditions.
AMD’s Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Izabela Jurewicz, said: This collaboration will enable us to deliver novel solutions to one of the biggest environmental threats to human health air pollution.