Miniaturization of sensors: Challenges and perspectives

The miniaturization of sensors generally meets multiple needs such as in situ and/or in vivo detection, parallelization, cost reduction, rapid analysis and processing of very small samples or very small volumes, enabling monitoring and control of physico-chemical and biological parameters in all areas of human activity . This requires the development of high-performance (bio)sensors, sometimes miniaturized to the limits imposed by physics. Research activities in this latter field aim to combine nanotechnologies, nanomaterials and the biological sciences to develop sensors with enhanced sensitivity and stability, well suited to rapid, continuous measurements. Ideally, the interfacial structure of these sensors should be mastered on several scales, to take advantage of synergy effects. We will illustrate this approach through work based on bioelectrochemical, optical and optoelectrochemical sensors developed within our research group .

This article is taken from the journal "Annales des falsifications, de l'expertise chimique et toxicologique" published by the SECF (Société des experts chimistes de France).