Gas sensors play a crucial role in modern technology and are employed in a wide range of fields, spanning from environment to healthcare and industry. Commonly used chemiresistive gas sensors, due to the high operating temperature necessary to activate chemical reactions at the surface for the majority of semiconductors, do not completely match the requirements imposed by the current innovation paradigm, addressed to a safe, green and reduced power-consumption technology. Therefore, the search for different sensing materials which embrace novel activation mechanisms is of groundbreaking importance. The use of visible light to activate gas sensitivity in semiconductors is a further, fundamental step towards the design of gas sensors with low power consumption and improved selectivity. In particular, sensing platforms able to distinguish between quantum properties of the molecules, would be of great interest. This is why particular gas sensors, called "quantum noses" have been developing in the last yeas. The goal of these particular sensors is the detection of the molecule chirality. The thesis work involves an experimental activity focused on:

1. structural characterization (XRD, PALS) of semiconductive platforms for gas sensing;
2. optical measurements of both powders and films to establish correlations between optical properties and expe rimental irradiation parameters for their visible light activated gas sensitivity.
3. data analysis aimed at extracting device-relevant figures of merit such as the quantum yield.

The thesis work will be carried out in collaboration between the SemiSpin laboratory under the supervision of Prof. Federico Bottegoni.

During the thesis, the skills acquired by the student will not remain confined to the project, but will constitute a solid scientific and professional background, valuable both in academia and for highly qualified positions in the Hi-Tech job market. The expected duration is about 9 months, with flexible yet continuous commitment (compatible with academic requirements). Interested students can contact Prof. Federico Bottegoni.