Chemical and Sensors and Biosensors

A chemical sensor is capable to recognize a chemical component of a sample and perform the real-time transduction of the concentration value into a physical signal (electrical, optical, or of another kind). This course gives an overview of the underlying principles for the main classes of chemical sensors, (electrochemical, optical, piezoelectric, enzyme, affinity and microbiological sensors). Applications in various fields, as, for example, industry, environment monitoring, biotechnology and medicine are discussed. Particular attention is paid to the thermodynamic and kinetic principles as well as to the applications of Supramolecular Chemistry for chemical recognition purposes. Application of microelectronics and advanced materials (nanomaterials) in chemical sensor design is addressed. This is an interdisciplinary course which addresses advanced students interested in one of the following topics: chemistry, environment science, biotechnology, bio-medicine, biophysics, microelectronics, nanomaterial science.

ACQUIRED KNOWLEDGE.
Students acquire knowledge about:
(1) Fundamental principles of chemical sensors;
(2) Materials and reagents used for the recognition of target compounds of various types, including inorganic, organic, and biological compounds:
(3) Methods for converting chemical information into measurable physical quantities (e.g., electric voltage or electric current):
(4) Technologies for the fabrication of chemical sensors, including micromachining technologies;
Principles of application of chemical sensors in various area of activity (e.g., medicine, environment monitoring, industry).

PROFICIENCY.
After graduating this course, the student is able to:
(1) Identify suited chemical sensors for specific applications;
(2) Perform a preliminary design of a sensor for a specific application;
(3) Identify needed materials and reagents for a particular sensor and formulate a summary flow-chart of the fabrication technology;
(4) Utilize in a rational way chemical sensors in particular applications.
GENERAL COMPETENCE.
After graduating this course, the student is able to:
(1)Select the type of sensor suited for a particular application;
(2)Design and develop a chemical sensor in cooperation wit a team of experts in electronics, material science or biochemistry

(1) Lectures (2 hours/week) in English;
(2) Essay on a subject which refers to a particular applications of chemical sensors.