There is a great need for rapid, accurate, cost effective, reliable, non-invasive and non-destructive sensing platforms to evaluate real-time quality of food products. Integration of such devices into intelligent packaging systems provides an efficient tool for real-time monitoring of food quality, facilitating food safety and biosecurity. <P>
The main objective of the suggested research is to develop novel multifunctional nanomaterials and devices that could in future power intelligent forms of food packaging. <P>
The materials will be based on elctroochemically-prepared nanostructured inorganic porous scaffolds, composed primarily of silicon (Si) and silicon oxide (SiO2) and their hybrids with various polymers/hydrogels. These materials will be designed to perform different tasks, including detecting, sensing, biosensing, and tagging.