Publications
See full list of publications by CAST members.Centre for Advanced Sensor Technologies
Our people
The Centre for Advanced Sensor Technologies carries out research into highly accurate sensors and devices. These have a range of uses, including:
- New energy efficient lighting systems
- Cheap, fast and easy medical diagnostics, such as blood tests
- Monitoring of pollution
- Measuring cell damage in accident victims
- Making manufacturing more efficient
We are also interested in nanotechnology, microelectronics and optoelectronics.
What are we working on?
Our centre provides a focus for existing interdisciplinary research into advanced sensors and related technologies.
We are also involved in sensor-related research in several areas, including biomedical engineering, advanced semiconductors and the interface between the two.
Success stories
One of our group's members, Professor Wang Wang, founded NanoGaN in 2008. The company produces Gallium Nitride wafers, a material that is important for a number of applications including blue-ray DVDs and advanced lasers.
In detail
CAST is a University research centre founded in 2006 with the principal aim of bringing together expertise in microelectronics, optoelectronics and novel materials.
Our research covers a wide range of areas such as electronic circuit and systems, wide bandgap semiconductors, LEDs, devices for medical applications, implantable systems, sensor and actuator materials, biosensors and chemical sensors.
Micro-electronics
- Implantable systems for Electroneurogram (ENG) recording
- Electroneurogram (ENG) signal processing
- Application of analogue methods to motion estimation systems for low power video applications
- CMOS biocompatible multiple electrode arrays
- Label-free electrical detection of biomolecular interactions
- Biologically sensitive field-effect devices
- Nano-biosensors
Optoelectronics and photonics
The research of the optoelectronics and photonics section of the centre is aimed at the development of wide bandgap semiconductors materials, nanostructures and devices, and of guided wave semiconductor integrated optical devices and circuits. The efficient device fabrication facility and the strong theoretical modelling capability of the group are recognised nationally and internationally.
- Wide band gap semiconductor material epitaxy
- Wafer-scale nano-imprinting techniques
- Semiconductor nano-structures
- III-Nitride LEDs for solid-state lighting
- Electrorefraction in quantum wells and superlattices
- Tunable optical filters and other functional devices for wavelength division multiplexed optical networks
- Advanced microfabrication techniques for semiconductor and glass based photonic components
- High-power superluminescent diodes
- High-power laser diodes and arrays
- Optoelectronics and photonics device modelling.
- Smart Nanostructured Semiconductors for Energy-Saving Light Solutions (SMASH), EU-FP7
- Materials Robust Gallium Nitride (MORGaN), EU-FP7
- Novel LEDs for Efficient Lighting Solutions (NoveLELS), TSB (UK)
- The development project for a cheap, innovative ultra-thin conductive ceramic mesh to monitor stress and wear on asteel surface (MesMesh), EU-FP7
- Polarised bone substitutes, EPSRC
- Development of an optical sensor, KTP (Knowledge Transfer Partnership)
- Enhancing electrochemical DNA biosensing with active sensitisers, Bio-E Initiative
- High-density peptide microarrays and high-throughput, label-free detection of peptides, modifications and interactions (HiPAD), EU FP7
- Improved diagnosis and early warning systems for avian influenza outbreak management (FLUTEST), EU-FP6
- Bio-detection of water contaminants, DSTL
- Cancer diagnosis: parallel sensing of prostate cancer biomarkers (PROSENSE), Marie Curie ITN
- Medical diagnosis using a novel electrochemical localised surface plasmon resonance technique, Royal Society
We run several well-equipped optical and electronic test laboratories, including:
- A full suite of industry-standard circuit design software
- An electronics test and measurement laboratory
- A materials laboratory suite
- A microfabrication laboratory
- A chemical sample preparation and electrochemistry laboratory.
