Mines Saint-Étienne has a platform of excellence dedicated to the design, manufacturing, and characterization of environmental and industrial sensors. Our expertise covers the entire process, enabling the development of innovative devices for monitoring atmospheric pollutants and process gases.
Shaping and Prototyping Unit
We master several deposition and structuring techniques for creating devices on various substrates (ceramic, silicon, flexible):
- Thick-film deposition
Screen printing and tape casting. - Precision printing
Inkjet for functional materials. - Micromachining
Laser etching for electrode and substrate structuring. - Heat treatment
High-temperature furnaces for sintering and stabilization of sensitive layers.
Test Benches and Metrological Characterization
The core of our expertise lies in validating sensor performance under real and controlled atmospheres.
Performance Evaluation under Gas
- Gas generation
Generation capacity from ppb (parts per billion) to %. - Controlled environment
Automated test benches with precise temperature and flow regulation. - Monitoring & Acquisition
Dedicated electronic units for sensor control, data acquisition, and real-time signal processing.
Electrical and Electrochemical Measurements
- Analysis of sensitivity and selectivity via potentiostats-galvanostats.
- Study of conduction mechanisms by impedance spectroscopy (Frequency Response Analyzer).
Physico-chemical and Environmental Analyses
To understand gas-matter interactions and ensure sensor reliability, the platform relies on advanced analytical tools:
- Material characterization
Access to SEM, TEM, XRD, and thermal analysis technologies. - Spectroscopic analyses
Advanced chemical characterization via XPS, Raman, FTIR, and ICP. - Gaseous environment analysis
- Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS).
- Reference gas analyzers for pollutant monitoring (NOx, CO, NH3, O2, etc.).
- Thermodesorption equipment for studying surface interactions.
Application areas
- Air quality
Urban and indoor monitoring (fine particles, trace gases). - Industry & Safety
Leak detection, combustion control, and process safety. - Health
Breath analysis and biosensors.
📞 Contact and access
The platform is open to academic collaborations and industrial services.
Mathilde RIEU
Location
Mines Saint-Étienne – Saint-Étienne Campus, 158 cours Fauriel, Saint-Étienne