Researchers to Develop Smarter, Smaller Microsensor for Potentially Dangerous Gas Emissions

Professor Mohammad Younis works with PhD students Hasan Albatayneh, left, and Basil Alattar at his lab in the Engineering and Science Building at the Innovative Technologies Complex at Binghamton University, State University of New York.

Newswise — When developing new technologies, engineers do their best to keep it simple. Adding layers of complication can lead to more things that could potentially go wrong.

As a researcher who develops microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), Binghamton University, State University of New York Professor Mohammad Younis fits tiny mechanical devices into spaces no bigger than a microchip, so simplicity also helps to keep it small.

Younis - a faculty member at the Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science 's Department of Mechanical Engineering - recently received a $335,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to develop and test an ultrasensitive gas detection MEMS device with autonomous actuation.