| Grant number: | 24/03721-5 |
| Support Opportunities: | Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral |
| Start date: | January 01, 2025 |
| End date: | December 31, 2026 |
| Field of knowledge: | Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Inorganic Chemistry |
| Principal Investigator: | Danilo Manzani |
| Grantee: | Bruno Seiki Domingos Onishi |
| Host Institution: | Instituto de Química de São Carlos (IQSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil |
| Associated research grant: | 21/08111-2 - Development of rare earth based light converters: luminescent markers, optical sensors, and amplifiers, AP.TEM |
Abstract Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are organic compounds with vapor pressures exceeding 0.01 kPa at 293.15 K, originating from both natural sources and human activities. Monitoring VOC emissions is crucial to prevent environmental degradation, and to protect people against health hazards such as carcinogenic risks and potential explosions. However, Brazil currently lacks specific legislation for air quality standards involving VOCs, emphasizing the necessity for research aimed at establishing regulations. Various types of VOCs sensors are available, with optical sensors, especially those utilizing optical fibers and planar waveguides, emerging as promising contenders due to their immunity to electromagnetic interference and suitability for remote sensing applications. Carbon dots (CDs) represent a promising solution for VOC sensing, featuring tunable photoluminescence emissions, biocompatibility, and solubility. Research utilizing CDs for VOC monitoring has been growing, with strategies involving CDs embedded in solid matrices and monitoring fluorescence and/or absorbance signals. Porous structures, particularly organic-inorganic hybrids based on silicate (ORMOSIL), offer desirable porosity and surface area, enhancing sensor performance. The proposed innovation involves developing a ratiometric optical sensor for acetone recognition and quantification by directly incorporating CDs-Eu3+ within the ORMOSIL structure. The project focuses on acetone detection due to its hazardous nature and potential applications in non-invasive diagnostics, including diabetes and lung cancer, given that acetone is a metabolite detectable in patients' breath. Challenges include achieving homogeneous CD-Eu3+ distribution and addressing sol-gel sensitivity during the development of a porous ORMOSIL structure. The methodology encompasses modifying optical fiber tip, surface-modifying glass substrates using the sol-gel technique, and utilizing precursor materials with CD-Eu3+ directly bonded to organoalkoxysilane for sensor development. | |
| News published in Agência FAPESP Newsletter about the scholarship: | |
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