Elise Bailey: Development of new electrochemical sensors for on-site detection of drugs

Current sensing techniques are not without merit but experience many issues ranging from non-specificity and low sensitivity to high cost and challenging operation. A single easy-to-use and interpret electrochemical sensor may help remedy some of these challenges in the field.<br><br>Conducting polymers have been shown to provide a promising sensing platform across a range of targets.

Their unique electrochemical properties mean that any changes to the system can be investigated electrochemically, and thus upon functionalization the detection of a vast range of analytes is possible.<br><br>This project focuses on the iterative synthesis of novel families of thiol-functionalized thiophene monomers, and extensive characterization of the corresponding polymers. These polymers are intended to form the basis of an electrochemical detection system for illicit substances that can sense drugs in complex liquid samples.</p>