Research Projects

The aim of this project is to develop smart sensor system for Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) monitoring employing highly sensitive nano-materials and low power electronics. The sensors will be interfaced with PCB level analog front-end for signal acquisition and conditioning, a micro-controller for data management and a wireless module to transfer sensor signals to electronic gadgets. IAQ at homes, schools and smart buildings are very important to maintain the healthy lives of their occupants. Present days commercial sensors show poor selectivity and consume large power. In this project metal oxide nano-materials (SnO2, WO3, TiO2, NiO) and 2D layered materials (GO, MoS2) will be used as sensing layer. The sensors will be made selective through functionalization and pattern recognition. An array of four resistive sensors will be developed to detect CO, toluene, formaldehyde and humidity. The instrumentation circuits will be implemented on PCBs with a focus on low power operation and miniaturization. The sensor signal will be transmitted wirelessly to mobile phone and notification to the end user can be sent (as good, medium, low, severe level air quality) through Android application. The project has a great potential to develop a compact, power efficient, selective IAQ prototype.

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