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This study introduces two new processes that highly enable PEDOT:PSS (poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate)) as stable coating material for chronic neural stimulation. In first process, strong mechanical bonding between PEDOT:PSS coating and gold electrodes is achieved by creating rough porous surface with partial iodine etching. PEDOT:PSS coating on iodine etched gold electrode shows 100% stability under strong ultrasonic treatment. The second process represents electrochemical modification of PEDOT:PSS coating by cyclic voltammetry method in Ringer's solution. This process reduces electrode polarization 33% during stimulation. Therefore, charge injection capacity increases that ensures safe stimulation. A combination of both processes facilitates the use of PEDOT:PSS coating for successful chronic neural recording and stimulation.

Porous networks of Pt nanoparticles interlinked by bifunctional organic ligands have shown high potential as catalysts in micro‐machined hydrogen gas sensors. By varying the ligand among p‐phenylenediamine, benzidine, 4,4‘‘‐diamino‐p‐terphenyl, 1,5‐diaminonaphthalene, and trans‐1,4‐diaminocyclohexane, new variants of such networks were synthesized. Inter‐particle distances within the networks, determined via transmission electron microscopy tomography, varied from 0.8 to 1.4 nm in accordance with the nominal length of the respective ligand. While stable structures with intact and coordinatively bonded diamines were formed with all ligands, aromatic diamines showed superior thermal stability. The networks exhibited mesoporous structures depending on ligand and synthesis strategy and performed well as catalysts in hydrogen gas microsensors. They demonstrate the possibility of deliberately tuning micro‐ and mesoporosity and thereby transport properties and steric demands by choice of the right ligand also for other applications in heterogeneous catalysis.

This paper presents a highly sensitive thermoelectric sensor for catalytic combustible gas detection. The sensor contains two low-stress (+176 MPa) membranes of a combination of stoichiometric and silicon-rich silicon nitride that makes them chemically and thermally stable. The complete fabrication process with details, especially the challenges and their solutions, is discussed elaborately. In addition, a comprehensive evaluation of design criteria and a comparative analysis of different sensor designs are performed with respect to the homogeneity of the temperature field on the membrane, power consumption, and thermal sensitivity. Evaluating the respective tradeoffs, the best design is selected. The selected sensor has a linear thermal characteristic with a sensitivity of 6.54 mV/K. Additionally, the temperature profile on the membrane is quite homogeneous (20% root mean standard deviation), which is important for the stability of the catalytic layer. Most importantly, the sensor with a ligand (p-Phenylenediamine (PDA))-linked platinum nanoparticles catalyst shows exceptionally high response to hydrogen gas, i.e., 752 mV at 2% concentration.