During a fundamental research project led by  UvA Associate Professor Ştefania Grecea, scientists discovered a new method for producing nanoparticles with several advantages. Recognising the potential of this method, Grecea and postdoctoral researcher Olivier Lugier founded the company Nano Hybrids.

Nano Hybrids produces high-quality nanoparticles in a sustainable way, suitable for a broad range of applications. Lugier, now CEO of the company: ‘We are currently focusing on applications in gas-sensing materials, and in the future we want to expand into biotech applications.’

Better gas detection

Nanoparticles can enhance gas sensors that work by measuring electrical resistance. A household gas detector, for example, has a piece of oxide that reacts with the target gas. This interaction changes the material's resistance, which the device detects. Once the change in resistance exceeds a threshold, the device starts beeping.  

Using oxide in nanoparticle form increases the surface area of the sensor, making it possible to detect much lower gas concentrations. That can be very important for people working with toxic gases in chemical plants, for example. 

The higher sensitivity could also help to detect forest fires at a much earlier stage. In addition, the sensors could be miniaturized because of the increased surface area, which is a major trend in applications such as air quality monitoring in cars. 

Versatility of nanoparticles

Nano Hybrids produces nanoparticles with a metal core and oxide shell, which improves conductivity. The nanoparticles can also be coated with molecules to further tune their properties. This versatility can help to address a major issue in gas sensing, namely cross sensitivity. This means that the sensor material reacts not only to the target gas, but also to other gasses present, causing false positives.

A solution is to build gas detectors with multiple sensors, each made from a different material with a distinct response. By connecting these sensors, the detector could identify multiple gases at once while minimizing cross sensitivity. Lugier: ‘Our production technology can develop slightly different nanoparticles for each sensor, which could be used to make a gas sensor with, for example, eight different sensors.’

Nano Hybrids is also developing a focus on biotechnology applications. The large surface area and magnetic properties of the nanoparticles could be used in research to effectively extract proteins or DNA. In the future, Lugier and his colleagues may also explore their use in diagnostics.

Building the company

The transition from research to building the company happened in several phases, Lugier explains. The researchers first discussed their startup idea with the university, in particular with the knowledge Transfer office IXA. Lugier: ‘They were quite supportive and helped us carry out a feasibility study. We looked whether there is a market opportunity, where we could get the funding, and what exactly we had in mind.’

According to Lugier, finding early funding for the company was quite similar to writing grant proposals as a researcher. However, the business aspects of the company were new to him, such as talking to potential customers, building partnerships, and dealing with the finances. It's hard to be good and efficient at it’, says Lugier. ‘I had to learn by doing it a lot.’ He also took part in several incubator programs that teach the basics of business and entrepreneurship.

Nano Hybrids was not built by one person, Lugier emphasises. Many different people participated and helped along the way, including his cofounder Ştefania Grecea, the university, employees, interns, and other Faculty of Science startups. ‘They all contributed and supported me. I'm very grateful for that, because there is so much to do that it can never be a one-person job.’