Nanomesh sensing

There is a need for better (bio)chemical sensors for applications of disease diagnosis and health monitoring as existing state-of-the-art sensors often lack stability and sensitivity, and they cannot be employed in vivo. This PhD topic's objective is developing superior and stable electrochemical sensors that can be used in the real world. imec’s nanomesh electrode technology will form the basis of these sensors. These highly porous structures allow for highly sensitive detection, and open new possibilities for the integration of sensing layers within the nanomesh.

The scope of the research includes:

• Integration of ion-selective membranes into the nanomesh structures to form novel solid-state ion-selective electrodes for sensing ions such as Na⁺, K⁺ and NH₄⁺.
• Biosensor development by immobilizing recognition elements such as aptamers within the nanomesh structures.
• Electrochemical evaluation and optimization of sensing performance. Testing of sensors in complex real-world solutions.
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The location of the PhD project will be Leuven with secondment(s) at the OnePlanet Research Center in Wageningen, NL.

The ideal background for this research is chemistry or materials science, and a background in engineering or biotechnology can also be a good fit. Any prior experience or training in electrochemistry and lab experience will certainly be useful.