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Since its inception in April 2001, Cranfield University at Kitakyushu has worked to develop collaborative
projects with universities, industries and public institutions in Japan. From the base at Kitakyushu Science and Research Park
strong collaborative links have been forged with Kitakyushu University Faculty of Environmental Science, Kyushu Institute of
Technology Graduate School of Life Science and Systems Engineering, Waseda University Graduate School of Informataion,
Production and Systems, and Kitakyushu City. Projects have evolved to benefit the local community and industry.
The Key themes and the subjects of current and future projects are based on the intent to achieve a more sustainable future
by developing practical solutions for product development while the benefitting society and the environment.
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Environmental Sensor Development
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Development of environmental sensors based on fibre-optic devices with nano-scale coatings
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Researchers:
This research project has developed novel optical waveguide sensor devices combining fibre-optic techniques with nano-scale coatings technology. The main theme of the project has been to devise sensors for the detection of volatile organic compounds(VOCs) at the low (ppb) concentrations at which they often occur within the indoor and ambient air environments and within water based environments. The project has focussed on the (i) the production of optical fibre sensor elements, for example the fabrication of grating structures within the core of the optical fibre, and (ii) optimisation of materials and coating techniques used to further sensitise the optical fibres. Coating techniques used to sensitise and optimise the optical fibre outputs have included multilayered functionalised molecules and multilayered nano molecules, which comprise a thin porous membrane formed by the simple molecular organization of nanomaterials using static electricity.
Additionally, chemometric data analysis techniques are being applied to the sensor output to facilitate the separation and identification and concentrations of specific VOCs.
The practical applications of the sensors include the general air and water environments, the food and drinks industry and medical & bio sensors.
Publications arising from the research includes:
1. S. Korposh, S. Kodaira, W. J. Batty, S. W. James, and S.-W. Lee*, Nano-assembled thin film gas sensor. II. An intrinsic high sensitive fibre optic sensor for ammonia detection, Sensor and Materials, Vol.21 No4, 2009, pp. 179-189.
2. S. Korposh and S.-W. Lee*, Fabrication of sensitive fibre-optic gas sensors based on nano-assembled thin films, in: Optical Fibre, New Developments, In-Tech publisher, 2009.
3. R. Selyanchyn, S. Korposh, S. Kodaira S.-W. Lee*, Nano-assembled thin film gas sensors. V. Palm skin gas detection using an evanescent-wave optical fiber sensor modified with a porphyrin film, Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical (submitted) 2010.
4. W. Yasukochi, S. Korposh, R. Selyanchyn, S.-W. Lee*, Fabrication of SiO2 Nanosphere Porous Films: a Novel Approach for Infusion of Optically Sensitive Functional Compounds, Sensor Letters (submitted) 2009.
5. S. Korposh, S. W. James, S. Topliss, S.C. Cheung, W. J. Batty, R. P. Tatam, S.-W. Lee, Fibre optic long period grating (LPG) chemical sensor based on the mesoporous coating, Optics Express, Vol. 18 Issue 12, pp.13227-13238 (2010)
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Structural and functional developments of molecular interfaces utilising chemometric techniques
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Research Partners:
Project rationale:
Prof Tetsuo Haruyama and his research group are promoting strongly gMolecular and Material Engineering Researchh The Haruyama research laboratory has developed various precise
methods for forming molecular layers and has gained a high level and wide knowledge regarding these techniques. The project is involved in the development of a biosensing system as a
high throughput analysis (HTA) technique and has been derived from the development of neurological medicines using synapse model cells conducted by Professor Haruyama. This HTA
bio-sensing system produces a complex sensor output signal. The interpretation of this data into meaningful information was a hurdle to the development of cellular bio-sensors for high
throughput use in pharmaceutical development. This hurdle has been overcome through collaboration with Dr Conrad Bessant of the Bioinformatics group at Cranfield University.
Project objective:
The objective of the research is to investigate the science of molecular interfaces and to develop molecular devices from the research outcomes. The collaboration is jointly developing
an analytical method which will enable the extraction from the bio-assay system output of useful information, e.g. relating to drug effectiveness or safety. The data analysis techniques
applied and developed during this research collaboration have contributed to the analysis of the sensor output and have brought the technique closer to practical application.
Publications arising from the research includes:
Chisato Tanoue, Hitoshi Asakawa, Michael Cauchi, Conrad Bessant, Shinya Ikeno and Tetsuya Haruyama, Tissular model/sensor seamless system for qualified analysis and its characterization, Biochemical Engineering Journal, in press (accepted 2010.8.15)
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Development of high-resolution laser microscope without reference lights
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Research Partners:
Project rationale:
By 2011 it will be possible to manufacture silicon chipsets on an industrial basis where circuit checks with a resolution of the order 10nm will be required. However, currently, only a scanning electron microscope (SEM) can satisfy this requirement. When using an SEM vacuum conditions are necessary and so testing can only be achieved by removing samples from the production line. It is desirable to develop techniques that could provide such high resolution testing for each silicon chipset on the production line using an optical analytical device with an order of 10nm resolution under atmospheric conditions.
The project objectives:
The key objective of the collaborative research project will be to translate X-ray speckle techniques, into the visible spectrum to achieve resolutions of the order 100 nm. The work brings to together 2 dimensional analytical X ray speckle analysis algorithm devised by Prof Takuya Suzuki with Dr Stephen James's expertise in the development and application of laser speckle interference instruments.
Initial studies will be carried out using readily available laser diodes operating in the near infra red. If this proves to be successful further developments with blue lasers will be undertaken to achieve resolutions below 100 nm.
Publications arising from the research includes:
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