FLAMENCO: FLexible And Multiparametric sEnsors based on Nanogels synthetized by miCrOfluidics
Research project selected under the 2013 call for proposals
Principal Investigator :
Etienne Palleau ()
LPCNO (Equipe Nanotech)
Type of project : Disruptive Project
Date (start/end) : 2014 - 2016
The 3 main objectives of the FLAMENCO project :
1) Microfluidic based synthesis of hydrogel nanoparticles
2) Electrostatic directed assembly of nanogels on substrates by nanoxerography
3)Characterization of the volume changes of nanogels under various stimuli
Abstract
The disruptive project FLAMENCO proposes to develop a low-cost generic technique to fabricate multiparametric pH and temperature nanosensors on flexible substrates. The active area of these sensors will be realized using “enviro-intelligent” hydrogel nanoparticles of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) PNIPAM and poly(acrylic acid) PAA. These nanogels, synthesized using microfluidics tools (1), will be assembled electrostatically in periodic networks on flexible substrates, using nanoxerography (2). In response to temperature and/or pH variations, these nanogels will undergo drastic volumic changes which could be detected by optical measurements (3). The main challenge will be to reduce the hydrogel particle dimensions down to the nanoscale to produce nanogels using simple PDMS microreactors. This project will introduce a new research field at LPCNO: microfluidics and its powerful and multidisciplinary potentialities.