This book discusses advances in functional thin films for sensors and novel concepts for future breakthroughs. The focus is on guidelines and design rules for sensor systems, interaction between functional thin films and other sensor subsystems, fundamentals behind the intrinsic functionality in sensing thin films and nanostructures, state-of-the-art technologies used to develop sensors today and concrete examples of sensor designs.
Thin films and nanostructures can play multiple roles in a sensor including structural support, reliability enhancement, filtering and transduction. These micro and nano structured materials are discussed here in the context of transduction and how they contribute to the current sensor revolution. This book covers an account of general sensors theory, design considerations, and specific case studies of functional thin films and nanostructure applications in sensing as it demonstrates the whole design process. The book is also intended to provide the more experienced designers with a condensed summary of sensor design methodology and excellent references that will prove useful in future sensor design endeavors. This book is also of interest to those with a deep knowledge of such areas of science and engineering as materials science, physics, chemistry, biology, mechanical and electrical engineering.