SensNewsJan2017

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Sensor100 January 2017 18
Environment
The Knowledge Foundation’s Third Annual BiodefenseWorld Summit brings
together leaders from government, academia, and industry for compelling
discussions and comprehensive coverage on pathogen detection, sample prep
technologies, point-of-care, and biosurveillance.Across the four-track event,
attendees can expect exceptional networking opportunities in the exhibit
hall, across panel discussions, and shared case studies with members of the
biodefense community from technology providers to policy makers.
Ultra-fast, Ultra-sensitive PtSe2 Gas Sensors
Researchers fromTrinity College Dublin,
Ireland have shown that PtSe2, a little-studied
transition metal dichalcogenide has potential
for a variety of uses. In particular, PtSe2 is an
excellent high performance gas sensor, and
fabrication is compatible with silicon chip
foundrys. To demonstrate possible applica-
tions for the new material, the researchers tested its performance in sensing
NO2. Gas molecules adsorbed onto the surface of the PtSe2 change its con-
ductivity, lowering the resistance.The researchers found that the PtSe2 had
extremely high sensitivity, measuring 100 ppb NO2 at room temperature.The
sensor was also extremely fast to respond to the gas – detecting low quanti-
ties of gas in only seconds – and recovering completely within a minute when
the inert atmosphere was restored.
For commercial sensing applications, the sensor must be responsive only to
specific gases, which require some additional processing steps.
Reported by 13 January