Nanocomet

Nanocomet is a project whose objective is the development of a robust, reliable and low-cost device for the simultaneous detection of natural gas (methane) leaks and carbon monoxide emissions, in order to minimize the high false alarm rate of commercial detectors currently on the market.

The project requires the development of conductometric type sensors, based on semiconductor oxides in thin film form, for the detection of both methane and carbon monoxide. As far as Nanocomet is concerned, most of the devices currently on the market are fabricated by sintering materials or thick film techniques.

These techniques suffer from a lack of reproducibility leading to a large dispersion of their electrical parameters after fabrication and a lack of selectivity in the response. This requires individual calibration of each and every device manufactured, complicates the conditioning electronics required and makes it difficult for the user to interpret the measurements obtained.

It is financed by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness through the CDTI (Center for the Development of Industrial Technology). EDP, Hybtronics Microsystems (electronics and subsystems integrator) and CEIT (sensor R&D) are participating in its development.