Semester Projects

In this project, you will develop new tissue mimicking materials to use in ultrasonic experimental characterization, in order to reproduce a realistic sensing environment in-vitro. You will also have the opportunity to learn acoustic characterization techniques applied to MEMS and implantable sensors, while working betwen ETH Zurich and EMPA Dubendorf.

To develop wearable-based strain sensors with CNT on top of Silicon-based MEMS structures, the fabricated MEMS structures need to adhere strongly to soft biocompatible substrates like PDMS. The motivation of this project is to identify a suitable strategy to develop proper adhesion be-tween the MEMS and PDMS substrate.

We are looking for a master thesis/semester project student for the experimental part of the investigation of the heat transfer coefficient at the boundary of a vascular graft implant. The project involves iterative CAD modelling and 3D printing resulting in a PDMS cast with integrated sensors. With our design we wish to mimic the vascular graft implant system. Using an already existing pulsatile flow setup, we wish to investigate the influence of different parameters on the heat transfer coefficient. The results are compared to already existing FEM simulation results.

We are looking for someone with CAD drawing skills and basic knowledge in thermodynamics and fluid dynamics.
The project is hands on and in the laboratory, however, it also allows for learnings in the field of FEM simulation..
 

The aim of this interdisciplinary project is to develop a new passive implantable sensor based on acoustics interrogation, with the ultimate goal to estimate the early on-set of the disease and improve patients’ life.

The aim of this interdisciplinary project is to develop new design solutions through FEM tools (e.g. Comsol). You will start with some state of the art examples in phononics and you will be asked to analyze and implement different acoustic designs, in the real and reciprocal space. Contribution to the prototype fabrication in the D-MAVT clean-room facilities may be discussed towards the end of the project.

Optimizing conditions for synthesis of single walled carbon nanotubes utilizing CVD systems localized at the Binnig and Rohrer Nanotechnology Center in Rüschlikon/Zürich. Characterization of SWNTs.

Development of well- defined catalyst nanoparticles utilizing apoferritin nano-bio-cages for synthesis of SWNTs with tailored characteristics.

Optimizing conditions for synthesis of single walled carbon nanotubes from ferritin precursors embedded in amorphous carbon film utilizing CVD systems localized at the Binnig and Rohrer Nanotechnology Center in Rüschlikon/Zürich.

Optimization of deposition and evaporation condition of specific material (for example pNBA = p-nitrobenzoic acid) forming submicroscopic particles on as-grown SWNTs. Localization of CNTs by optical microscopy.
Electrical characterization of CNFET devices fabricated from SWNTs pre-localized by optical microscopy imaging.

Characterization of SWNTs synthetized by a CVD process on MEMS chips by Raman spectroscopy utilizing multiple laser wavelengths. Determination of presence of DWNTs, bundles and individual SWNTs as well as their characteristics and quality.

Tasks and Opportunities
- Design a set of experiments using a multi-parameter optimization method, which is widely used in quality engineering (industry/academia)
- Grow CNTs by CCVD to gain hands-on experience in nanomaterial synthesis
- Analyze CNT growth results

Development of a toolchain based on COMSOL and Matlab to simulate the modulation of charge transport in carbon nanotube sensors due to mechanical or chemical effects.

SWNT decoration by preselected nanoparticle types and determination of the impact of the material onto nanotube characteristics and CNFET performance.

The thermal actuators have been fabricated already using standard microfabrication technology. The current-strain characteristics need to be calibrated using SEM optical methods as well as numerical methods (COMSOL)