CATRIN deepens cooperation with FEI in sensor technologies

Today’s meeting between experts from CATRIN and the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at VŠB-TUO should contribute to further development of cooperation, including the preparation of a joint project. Scientists from both institutions want to combine their knowledge and experience in the field of sensor technologies. CATRIN experts have been working on the development of printed sensors using new graphene materials for a long time. These devices have great potential in a wide range of areas, from medicine and industrial applications to environmental protection and sustainable agriculture. “Society not only needs new materials, but also rightly calls for their use in real-world applications. At CATRIN, we can build on our experience in developing sensor materials, but we need a partner with expertise in electrical engineering. The connection with the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science therefore represents a great symbiosis,” said Michal Otyepka from CATRIN, one of the initiators of the meeting. One of the outcomes of the collaboration should be a joint project focused on the development of a flexible printed sensor for pH monitoring. “However, the collaboration may open up opportunities for the development of sensors for a wide range of applications. CATRIN is strong in materials preparation, while we know everything about electrical engineering, data transmission, and wireless measurements,” confirmed Radovan Hájovský from FEI. According to him, the collaboration began about a year ago. The aim of today’s meeting was to get to know each other better and set out directions for further cooperation. The program also included a tour of the CATRIN laboratories, including a phenotyping line for monitoring plant interactions with the environment, which is unique in the Czech Republic.