Abstract: A percolation network of functionalised reduced graphene oxide flakes, the percolation network configured to allow for hopping of charge carriers between adjacent reduced graphene oxide flakes to enable a flow of charge carriers through the percolation network, and wherein the reduced graphene oxide flakes are functionalised to facilitate detectable changes in the flow of charge carriers in response to a stimulus to the percolation network.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising: a channel (4) configured to conduct charge carriers; and a charge carrier generator (22) configured to generate charge carriers for populating the channel, wherein the charge carrier generator is configured for resonance energy transfer (FRET). The charge carrier generator may be a nanoparticle or quantum dot (22), functionalised with at least one moiety (28A, 28B) to enable detection of an analyte. The charge carrier generator may also be a nanoparticle or quantum dot (22) configured to photo-generate charge carriers. The channel (4) may be made of a material having a very high carrier mobility like graphene or carbon nanotubes.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a layer of channel material, source and drain electrodes configured to enable a flow of electrical current through the channel material, and a layer of quantum dot material configured to generate electron-hole pairs on exposure to electromagnetic radiation to produce a detectable change in the electrical current indicative of one or more of the presence and magnitude of the electromagnetic radiation. The layer of quantum dot material is positioned between the channel material and a layer of conductive material. The layers of channel and conductive material have work functions such that respective built-in electric fields are created at the interfaces between the layer of quantum dot material and the channel and conductive material. The electric field at each interface acts in the same direction to promote separation of the electrons and holes of the electron-hole pairs to facilitate production of the detectable change in electrical current.

Abstract: An apparatus and method, the apparatus including a charge carrier wherein the charge carrier includes a continuous three dimensional framework including a plurality of cavities throughout the framework; sensor material provided throughout the charge carrier; wherein the sensor material is configured to transduce a detected input and change conductivity of the charge carrier in dependence of the detected input.

Abstract: A method comprising: depositing a quantum dot solution onto a supporting substrate in a drop-wise manner to form one or more discrete droplets on a surface of the substrate, the quantum dot solution and discrete droplets comprising a plurality of quantum dots having primary ligands attached thereto to stabilize the quantum dots in solution; and depositing a ligand-exchange solution onto the one or more discrete droplets in a drop-wise manner to cause replacement of the primary ligands attached to the plurality of quantum dots with shorter-chain secondary ligands, replacement of the primary ligands with the secondary ligands allowing the plurality of quantum dots within each discrete droplet to become sufficiently close packed to facilitate charge transfer there between.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a layer of channel material, source and drain electrodes configured to enable a flow of electrical current through the channel material, and a layer of quantum dot material configured to generate electron-hole pairs on exposure to electromagnetic radiation to produce a detectable change in the electrical current indicative of one or more of the presence and magnitude of the electromagnetic radiation. The layer of quantum dot material is positioned between the channel material and a layer of conductive material. The layers of channel and conductive material have work functions such that respective built-in electric fields are created at the interfaces between the layer of quantum dot material and the channel and conductive material. The electric field at each interface acts in the same direction to promote separation of the electrons and holes of the electron-hole pairs to facilitate production of the detectable change in electrical current.

Abstract: A method comprising: depositing a quantum dot solution onto a supporting substrate in a drop-wise manner to form one or more discrete droplets on a surface of the substrate, the quantum dot solution and discrete droplets comprising a plurality of quantum dots having primary ligands attached thereto to stabilise the quantum dots in solution; and depositing a ligand-exchange solution onto the one or more discrete droplets in a drop-wise manner to cause replacement of the primary ligands attached to the plurality of quantum dots with shorter-chain secondary ligands, replacement of the primary ligands with the secondary ligands allowing the plurality of quantum dots within each discrete droplet to become sufficiently close packed to facilitate charge transfer there between.

Abstract: An apparatus and method, the apparatus including a charge carrier wherein the charge carrier includes a continuous three dimensional framework including a plurality of cavities throughout the framework; sensor material provided throughout the charge carrier; wherein the sensor material is configured to transduce a detected input and change conductivity of the charge carrier in dependence of the detected input.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising: a channel (4) configured to conduct charge carriers; and a charge carrier generator (22) configured to generate charge carriers for populating the channel, wherein the charge carrier generator is configured for resonance energy transfer (FRET). The charge carrier generator may be a nanoparticle or quantum dot (22), functionalised with at least one moiety (28A, 28B) to enable detection of an analyte. The charge carrier generator may also be a nanoparticle or quantum dot (22) configured to photo-generate charge carriers. The channel (4) may be made of a material having a very high carrier mobility like graphene or carbon nanotubes.

Abstract: A percolation network of functionalised reduced graphene oxide flakes, the percolation network configured to allow for hopping of charge carriers between adjacent reduced graphene oxide flakes to enable a flow of charge carriers through the percolation network, and wherein the reduced graphene oxide flakes are functionalised to facilitate detectable changes in the flow of charge carriers in response to a stimulus to the percolation network.

Abstract: An apparatus including first and second sensor elements, the first sensor element includes a first sensor material. The second sensor element includes a second sensor material. The first sensor material is configured such that an electrical property of the first sensor material is dependent upon the temperature of the environment in which the first and second sensor elements are located. The second sensor material is configured such that the same electrical property of the second sensor material is dependent upon the relative vapor pressure of a fluid in the environment in which the first and second sensor elements are located, the respective temperature and fluid relative vapor pressure dependencies of the first and second sensor materials allowing the temperature and fluid relative vapor pressure of the environment to be determined based on combined measurements of the electrical property of the first and second sensor materials in the environment.

Abstract: An apparatus including a sensor array, configured to produce an array output value in response to an environmental stimulus, and a controller, the sensor array including a plurality of sensors and a common output terminal connected to the respective outputs of the sensors, each sensor having first and second electrodes configured to output a respective sensor output value in a particular environment based on the areas of the first and second electrodes and/or the spacing therebetween, the controller configured to control which of the sensors are connected to the common output terminal using respective switches to vary the effective area and/or spacing of the sensor array such that the array output value at the common output terminal, based on the contribution of the respective sensor output values of the connected sensors, is held at a reference value.

Abstract: An analyte sensor apparatus and a corresponding fluid medium, the analyte sensor apparatus comprising a sensing element, the external surface of which comprises a membrane to inhibit exposure of the sensing element; the corresponding fluid medium comprising a receptor species and an activatable species, the receptor species for interacting with an analyte to activate the activatable species, activation of the activated species causing increased porosity of the membrane of an in-contact analyte sensor apparatus to correspondingly increase exposure of the sensing element to allow for production of a detectable electrical signal which can be used to sense the presence of the analyte.

Abstract: An apparatus including a sensor array, configured to produce an array output value in response to an environmental stimulus, and a controller, the sensor array including a plurality of sensors and a common output terminal connected to the respective outputs of the sensors, each sensor having first and second electrodes configured to output a respective sensor output value in a particular environment based on the areas of the first and second electrodes and/or the spacing therebetween, the controller configured to control which of the sensors are connected to the common output terminal using respective switches to vary the effective area and/or spacing of the sensor array such that the array output value at the common output terminal, based on the contribution of the respective sensor output values of the connected sensors, is held at a reference value.

Abstract: An apparatus including first and second sensor elements, the first sensor element includes a first sensor material. The second sensor element includes a second sensor material. The first sensor material is configured such that an electrical property of the first sensor material is dependent upon the temperature of the environment in which the first and second sensor elements are located. The second sensor material is configured such that the same electrical property of the second sensor material is dependent upon the relative vapour pressure of a fluid in the environment in which the first and second sensor elements are located, the respective temperature and fluid relative vapour pressure dependencies of the first and second sensor materials allowing the temperature and fluid relative vapour pressure of the environment to be determined based on combined measurements of the electrical property of the first and second sensor materials in the environment.

Abstract: An analyte sensor apparatus and a corresponding fluid medium, the analyte sensor apparatus comprising a sensing element, the external surface of which comprises a membrane to inhibit exposure of the sensing element; the corresponding fluid medium comprising a receptor species and an activatable species, the receptor species for interacting with an analyte to activate the activatable species, activation of the activated species causing increased porosity of the membrane of an in-contact analyte sensor apparatus to correspondingly increase exposure of the sensing element to allow for production of a detectable electrical signal which can be used to sense the presence of the analyte.