We present a highly sensitive gas detection approach for the infamous ‘nerve agent’ group of alkyl phosphonate compounds. Signal transduction is achieved by monitoring the work function shift of metal–organic framework UiO-66-NH₂ coated electrodes upon exposure to ppb-level concentrations of a target simulant. Using the Kelvin probe technique, we demonstrate the potential of electrically insulating MOFs for integration in field effect devices such as ChemFETs: a three orders of magnitude improvement over previous work function-based detection of nerve agent simulants. Moreover, the signal is fully reversible both in dry and humid conditions, down to low ppb concentrations. Comprehensive investigation of the interactions that lead towards this high sensitivity points towards a series of confined interactions between the analyte and the pore interior of UiO-66-NH₂.

SUMMARY Wireless sensor nodes (WSNs) are expected to play an increasing role in multiple application areas. These application areas vary from networks around the human body, sensors in smart tires, sensor networks that can control the safety and comfort levels throughout smart buildings, sensors that monitor the necessity for maintenance and sensors that track the conditions of food throughout the distribution chain. These wireless sensors need energy, which can be supplied by a battery or an energy harvester. However, even when an energy harvester is applied, energy storage is required to serve as energy buffer. In this review, the requirements that different types of wireless sensor networks impose on these batteries are explored, and several suitable types of batteries are reviewed. Moreover, the trends in battery development are described, and the future improvements are predicted. Finally, the possibilities are discussed to select a battery with properties that are matched to the requirements of the sensor nodes. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

High quality Lithium phosphate (Li₃PO₄) thin films have been deposited by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD), using tert-butyllithium and trimethyl phosphate as precursors. The Li₃PO₄ films deposited at 300°C yielded the highest ionic conductivity (3.9 × 10⁻⁸ S·cm⁻¹). Increasing the deposition temperature led to crystallization of the deposited films and, consequently, to lower ionic conductivities. Kinetic studies on planar substrates showed that Li₃PO₄ deposition is a diffusion-controlled process in the temperature range of 300 to 500°C. Li₃PO₄ films have also been deposited on highly structured substrates to investigate, for the first time, the feasibility of 3D deposition of Li₃PO₄ by MOCVD. Furthermore, very thin films of Li₃PO₄ have been deposited onto thin film Si anodes and it was found that these layers effectively suppress the SEI formation and dramatically improve the cycle performance of Si film anodes.