Internship: Nanomaterial Deposition for Advanced Gas Sensor Applications

About the traineeship

We are offering an internship opportunity focused on the development of nanostructured sensing materials for next-generation gas sensor technologies, in collaboration with VSParticle B.V., a leader in spark ablation-based nanomaterial synthesis and deposition. This internship provides hands-on experience with a state-of-the-art material fabrication technique and its application in emerging sensing technologies for health, environmental, and smart-device applications.

Project Overview

Gas sensors for health and environmental monitoring require highly sensitive, selective, and stable sensing layers. One promising approach is the use of nano-porous materials with high surface area and controlled composition. In this project, you will work with VSParticle’s spark ablation deposition technology, a solvent-free method enabling the fabrication of high-purity nanomaterials directly onto sensor substrates. You will contribute to the development and optimization of these materials for use in MEMS-based gas sensors, targeting applications such as:

• Non-invasive health monitoring (e.g., detection of VOC biomarkers)
• Indoor air quality sensing
• Smart home and wearable systems

Your Responsibilities

During the internship, you will:

• Perform nanomaterial deposition using VSParticle (spark ablation) equipment
• Develop and optimize nano-porous thin films (e.g., metal oxides or composite materials)
• Characterize material properties such as morphology, composition, and structure
• Analyze and document experimental results
• Collaborate with researchers and engineers on sensor integration and performance evaluation
• Participate in measurement campaigns at partner sites, including potential travel to collaborators in Germany for electrical characterization and sensor validation