Ajsa Cuprija

Imagine a world where machines can feel their own temperature, pressure and wear in real time—even in the harshest conditions. From steel-cutting tools that endure extreme heat to heat exchangers in prolonged contact with corrosive liquids, monitoring these processes is key to making them efficient and sustainable. However, traditional sensors either can’t handle these environments or are too bulky to integrate without disrupting machine operation.

My research tackles this challenge by combining microfabrication with advanced material analysis to develop tiny but robust sensors. The sensors are made using standard photolithography and thin-film deposition techniques, while I explore transfer printing methods for integrating them onto uneven surfaces such as stainless steels and cemented carbides. To study their material composition and structural stability, I use a variety of microscopy and spectroscopy tools. Once fabricated and integrated, the sensors face their toughest challenge: surviving brutal conditions while delivering reliable data. I will thus collaborate in building a custom high-temperature probing station for testing sensor performance and I complement this with synchrotron-based imaging to capture atomic-scale material changes during heating.

By bridging nanotech and industrial engineering, these sensors can enable real-time monitoring of machine health which reduces waste and extends tool lifespans. This not only improves efficiency but also supports manufacturing industries in meeting environemental goals. 
A small-scale solution with a large-scale impact.