Core competences
JLM Innovation has built up a set of facilities, intellectual property and products that help us to deliver outstanding and cost effiicient solutions in the area of chemical sensing:
- Gas sensor know-how
Instrumentation based on a range of different sensing technologies - Data analysis
Algorithms and software for the analaysis of sensor data
Chemical sensors are different to physical sensors!
Chemical sensors interact with their environment in multiple ways. Their primary goal is to sense a specific chemical analyte in the gas, liquid or solid phase. The sensing process, that takes place within the chemical sensor, converts the chemical information into an electrical signal. Analyte molecules in the environment of the sensor interact with the chemical sensor and generate a physical reaction within the chemical sensor that can be translated into an electrical signal. The chemical sensors therefor often consists of two components:
- A sensisitve layer that interacts with the analyte molecules
- A transducer that translates changes in the sensitive layer into a physical / electrical signal
Chemical sensing is challenging!
There is an enourmous amount of different analyte molecules that need to be sensed with chemical sensors. Likewise there are many different transduction technologies and sensitive layers on the market and in research.
Unlike phyiscal sensors that sense a limited amount of physical properties, that are also clearly distinct, chemical analytes may be all sorts molecules from simple atoms to complex biological molecules. Very often very similar analytes need to be discriminated in an application. In most application a huge range of different analytes may interact with a chemical sensor.
Typical limitations of chemical sensors are:
- Selectivity
There are practically no chemical sensors available that are absolutely specific for a singly analyte. - Sensitivity
Many application require miniscule concentrations to be sensed. Concentrations may range from percent down to parts per trillion. - Stability
As chemical sensors need to be exposed to the environment and interact with chemical species, they exhibit drift and poisoning
Know-How and Experience
Coping with the challenges of chemical sensing requires a broad know-how of technologies and practical experience. JLMÂ Innovation draws on more than 15 years of research and development as well as application work in areas as diverse as environmental monitoring, automotive, industrial control, quality control, safety and security.
Our tools are used by worldwide by leading experts and researchers in the field. A list of publications can be found here.
Together with our extensive network of partners in research and industry we can deliver outstanding results in the most challenging areas.
Facilitating Innovation
At JLM Innovation we put our focus on low cost gas sensor technologies. Our tools and products may be directed towards uses in research and development, but we do understand that the final purpose is to deliver solutions to a society faced by environmental, economic and even terrorist threats.
When we design a new product we keep in mind that in order to bring the technology to its final market we need to be able to scale and reduce cost.
Flexibility is among the most important properties in research and development. We can adopt our instruments and software to suit the most specialised needs. And we can do that fast and very cost efficient, by building on our existing intellectual property. As an added value we pave the way from research to real life.
The earlier you can test your new technologies in real life applications, the faster you will understand the real challenges behind true innovation.