Flexible Electrochemical Multi sensors For online Water Quality Monitoring

Solid-state electrochemical sensor technologies with IoT systems have significant importance in many fields such as medical, biological, agricultural, and environmental pollution monitoring systems. In environmental pollution, and water pollution have serious consequences for human health, animal, fish, and plant life. Water quality monitoring demands the determination of parameters like pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), conductivity, turbidity, Cl- ion, temperature, content of ammonia, metal ions, etc.

This Ph.D. project will develop a new flexible electrochemical multisensor patch (pH, DO, dissolved ions) on the flexible substrate. Such sensor patches will have potential implementation in underwater vehicles for online water quality monitoring. The sensors will be fabricated by screen printing technology.

The expected major activities are 1. Preparation of new biocompatible sensitive electrode paste and fabrication of flexible electrodes. 2. Structural, morphological, and elemental analysis of the sensitive electrodes 3. Fabrication of the sensors by printing technology and investigation the sensing mechanism using electrochemical characterisations.

Academic qualifications

A second class honour degree or equivalent qualification in material science, chemistry, physics and electronics engineering.

English language requirement

If your first language is not English, comply with the University requirements for research degree programmes in terms of English language.

Application process

Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact the supervisor, Dr. Libu Manjakkal ([Email Address Removed]) to discuss the content of the project and the fit with their qualifications and skills before preparing an application. 

The application must include: 

Research project outline of 2 pages (list of references excluded). The outline may provide details about

• Background and motivation, explaining the importance of the project, should be supported also by relevant literature. You can also discuss the applications you expect for the project results.
• Research questions or
• Methodology: types of data to be used, approach to data collection, and data analysis methods.
• List of references

The outline must be created solely by the applicant. Supervisors can only offer general discussions about the project idea without providing any additional support.

• Statement no longer than 1 page describing your motivations and fit with the project.
• Recent and complete curriculum vitae. The curriculum must include a declaration regarding the English language qualifications of the candidate.
• Supporting documents will have to be submitted by successful candidates.
• Two academic references (but if you have been out of education for more than three years, you may submit one academic and one professional reference), on the form can be downloaded here.

Applications can be submitted here.

Download a copy of the project details here.