Nanomaterials are known for their special properties such as high surface-to-volume ratio, strong adsorption efficiency, high surface reactivity and outstanding tailored surface properties. The development of novel nanostructured artificial receptor materials combining biological recognition principles with the ruggedness of artificial materials and then its technological applications as a recognition material is of substantial interest. Numerous advanced analytical techniques has greatly improved the performance of analytical testing and chemical sensor technology is the most promising and suitable technique for on-line and real-life analysis.

The optimized sensitivity and selectivity of a chemical sensor can be acquired by two different techniques: by designing suitable affinity materials or by so-called molecular imprinting which offers “plaster cast” of a template species in a macromolecular matrix and the resulting cavities are ideally adapted to the geometrical and functional properties of the respective target analyte. In addition to affinity material and MIPs, the composite based recognition material is of great interest from material point of view and its wide range technological applications.

Chemical Sensors related Research activities

Dr Ghulam Mustafa’s research group currently focuses on the design and development mass sensitive (Quartz Crystal Microbalance) and Inter Digital capacitors based chemical and biochemical sensors. Our research activities are focused on a wide variety of topics including the synthesis and application of nanostructured chemically-selective recognition materials including molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs), thin-layers, nanoparticles, core-shell nanoparticles and nanocomposite to detect the important environmental contaminants.

The group’s scientific collaborations are extensive and include those within the department and those with other departments at Qaud-e-Azam University, other universities, industrial partners, and international research groups.