Nanotechnology for polymer-based sensors and actuators

Modern polymers, nanostructures and composites have become very important for micro system technology. Sensors and actuators for very different purposes can be designed and manufactured because of a large variety of available materials. The range spreads from micro systems for biotechnology through force and position sensors to climate sensors for automotive industries. The advantages of the polymers are in terms of easy processing, implementing of large arrays at low costs and low mass. Furthermore, polymer and composite sensors can be combined with polymer electronics components, thus mass printing processes are available for the production of integrated systems. Some results concerning the development and characterization of composite-based micro systems, such as humidity sensors or thermoelectric generators have been given. In addition, some aspects of the integration of semiconductor nanocrystals have been mentioned. Perspectively they will be used as light sources for sensors in polymer-based micro systems