Opening the Way to Mobile Olfaction with Nanomechanical Sensors

05-Dec-2016 - Japan

An alliance between six organizations is setting a de facto standard for smell sensors employing a small, sensitive and versatile sensor element called the Membrane-type Surface stress Sensor (MSS)

International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics(WPI-MANA)

Image of a mobile olfaction device with the MSS

Six organizations including NIMS, Kyocera, Osaka University, NEC, Sumitomo Seika and NanoWorld jointly launched the MSS Alliance on September 25, 2015 in order to establish a de facto standard for odor analysis and sensor systems employing a sensor element called the Membrane-type Surface stress Sensor (MSS).

The MSS is a sensor element which was jointly developed in 2011 by Genki Yoshikawa (Group Leader, MANA, NIMS), the late Dr. Heinrich Rohrer and Ecole polytechnique federale de Lausanne (EPFL). It is a versatile, small and sensitive sensor element capable of measuring diverse molecules in the atmosphere and in liquids, including gas molecules and biomolecules. Unlike conventional nanomechanical sensors, the MSS can achieve high sensitivity with a compact system thanks to the comprehensive structural optimization with electric read-out based on piezoresistors. Its sensitivity is more than 100 times higher than that of conventional piezoresistive nanomechanical sensors, even surpassing that of optical read-out.

The MSS will be utilized for the development of “mobile olfaction” compatible with the emerging “IoT society,” contributing in various fields such as foods, cosmetics, medicine, the environment and safety, anytime, anywhere and for anybody.

To speed up the popularization and practical application of the MSS technology in society, NIMS launched an industry-government-academia joint research framework, the MSS Alliance, in collaboration with the above-mentioned partners, who possess the key technologies for development of practical olfaction sensor systems and related services. Through this framework, Dr. Yoshikawa’s research group is working on the challenging tasks of optimizing element technologies and establishing a reliable measurement system toward a de facto standard for an olfaction sensor.

Other news from the department science

These products might interest you

SprayMaster inspex

SprayMaster inspex by LaVision

Quality Control for Your Spraying Process Through Digital Spray and Particle Analysis

Reliable, Automated, Digital - The Geometry Measurement of Your Spraying Process in Real Time

spray analysis systems
VEGAPULS | VEGABAR | VEGASWING

VEGAPULS | VEGABAR | VEGASWING by VEGA Grieshaber

Cyber-safe level measurement - here's how it works

Find out more about the unique sensor for liquid and solid media

level measurement technology
FireSting-PRO

FireSting-PRO by PyroScience

New fiber optic measuring device: Precise measurements even in the smallest volumes

Measure pH, oxygen and temperature even under sterile conditions

measuring instruments
Loading...

Most read news

More news from our other portals

All FT-IR spectrometer manufacturers at a glance

See the theme worlds for related content

Topic world Sensor technology

Sensor technology has revolutionized the chemical industry by providing accurate, timely and reliable data across a wide range of processes. From monitoring critical parameters in production lines to early detection of potential malfunctions or hazards, sensors are the silent sentinels that ensure quality, efficiency and safety.

4 products
1 whitepaper
4 brochures
View topic world
Topic world Sensor technology

Topic world Sensor technology

Sensor technology has revolutionized the chemical industry by providing accurate, timely and reliable data across a wide range of processes. From monitoring critical parameters in production lines to early detection of potential malfunctions or hazards, sensors are the silent sentinels that ensure quality, efficiency and safety.

4 products
1 whitepaper
4 brochures