ABOUT US
Meet our Team
Neus Sabaté
- Team Leader
- Research Professor
- PhD Physics
Susana Liébana
- Post-doctoral Senior Researcher
- PhD Chemistry
Aida Visús
- Pre-doctoral Researcher
- MSc Electrochemistry
David Batet
- Pre-doctoral researcher
- MSc Nanomaterials and Nanophysics
Helena Arias
- Electronic and Mechanical Engineering Student
Júlia González
- Electronic devices
OUR RESEARCH FOCUS
Battery-less diagnostic devices
Our research focuses on the development of devices in which a power source operates as a sensor. This allows us to create single use and battery-less diagnostic devices with a digital readout and minimal electronic content.
This disruptive approach paves the way towards the universal deployment of diagnostic tests, specially in low and medium income countries, where cost and sustainability are the main key drivers.
OUR WORKS
Research projects
Ongoing projects
PRONTO
Self-PoweRed cONductimeter for digiTalization of rapid mOlecular diagnostics (HORIZON-ERC-POC, Spain)
Funding institution: European Research Council
May 2023 – October 2024
FAIRCARD
FAIRCARD for digital Diabetes universal screening
Funding institution: AGAUR – Programa PRODUCTE 2021
February 2023 – August 2024
Past projects
FAIRGLUCOSE
Affordable and sustainable self-powered GLUCOSE sensing system for a global FAIR diabetes management (HORIZON-ERC-POC, Spain)
Funding institution: European Research Council
May 2022 – October 2023
DISDIRA
DISpositivos de DIagnóstico RÁpido energéticamente autónomos
Funding institution: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Spain
February 2022 – January 2023
THERMOLOGICS
Self-powered temperature sensors based on thermoelectric generators
Funding institution: Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades
July 2020 – June 2023POWER-PATCH
Self-powered skin patch for cystic fibrosis diagnosis (ERC-Proof of Concept)
Funding institution: European Research Council
July 2019 – December 2020
ECOTAGS
Self-triggered ECObattery TAGS for instant and ubiquitous event detection
Funding institution: CERN – ATTRACT projects
June 2019 – May 2020
D2PATCH
Pegat Digital d'un sol ús per a la monitorització de la deshidratació
Funding institution: AGAUR – Programa PRODUCTE 2018
May 2019 – August 2020
SUPERCELL
Single-use paper fuel cells (ERC Consolidator Grant)
Funding institution: European Research Council
July 2015 – June 2020
POWERPAD
A biotic degradable redox battery for poor-resource settings
Funding institution: Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation through ECS
October 2014 – October 2015
POWERPAD
A biotic degradable redox battery for poor-resource settings
Funding institution: Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation through ECS
October 2014 – October 2015
POWERPAD
A biotic degradable redox battery for poor-resource settings
Funding institution: Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation through ECS
October 2014 – October 2015
Publications
- S.K. Sailapu, S. Liébana, I. Merino-Jiménez, J.P. Esquivel, N. Sabaté, Towards a REASSURED reality: A less-is-more electronic design strategy for self-powered glucose test, Biosensors and Bioelectronics, available online 29 September 2023 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bios.2023.115708)
- D. Galyamin, S. Liébana, J.P. Esquivel, N. Sabaté, Immuno-battery: A single use self-powered immunosensor for REASSURED diagnostics, Biosensors and Bioelectronics 220, (2023) 114868. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bios.2022.114868)
- O.A. Ibrahim, M. Navarro-Segarra, P. Sadeghi, N. Sabaté, J.P. Esquivel, E. Kjeang, Microfluidics for Electrochemical Energy Conversion, Chemical Reviews (2022) (https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemrev.1c00499)
- L. Ortega, A. Llorella, J.P. Esquivel, J. Mas-Pla, N. Sabaté, A printed and self-powered test strip for digital conductivity measurement of low volume liquid samples, Flexible and Printed Electronics 6 (2021) 044003. (https://doi.org/10.1088/2058-8585/ac2b88)
- S.K. Sailapu, N. Sabaté, E. Bakker, Self-Powered Potentiometric Sensors with Memory, ACS Sensors 6 (2021) 3650-3656. (https://doi.org/10.1021/acssensors.1c01273)
- S.K. Sailapu, A. Blanquer, M. Duch, J.P. Esquivel, C.Nogués, J. Esteve, N. Sabaté, Self-activated microbatteries to promote cell death through local electrical stimulation, Nano Energy 83 (2021) 105852. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoen.2021.105852)
- I. Merino-Jimenez, A. Llorella, M. Navarro-Segarra, J. Agramunt, A. Grandas, S.D. Minteer, J.P. Esquivel, N. Sabaté, A Self-Powered Minimalistic Glucometer: A Lean Approach to Sustainable Single-Use Point-of-Care Devices, Advanced Materials Technologies 6 (2021) 2001051. (https://doi.org/10.1002/admt.202001051)
- M. Navarro-Segarra, P.P. Alday, D. Garcia, O.A. Ibrahim, E. Kjeang, N. Sabaté, J.P. Esquivel, An Organic Redox Flow Cell-Inspired Paper-Based Primary Battery, Chem Sus Chem 13 (2020) 2394-2401. (https://doi.org/10.1002/cssc.201903511)
- S.K. Sailapu, P. Kraikaew, N. Sabaté, E. Bakker, Self-Powered Potentiometric Sensor Transduction to a Capacitive Electronic Component for Later Readout, Acs Sensors 5 (2020) 2909-2914. (https://doi.org/10.1021/acssensors.0c01284)
- L. Ortega, A. Llorella, J.P. Esquivel, N. Sabaté, Paper-Based Batteries as Conductivity Sensors for Single-Use Applications, ACS Sensors 5 (2020) 1743-1749 (https://doi.org/10.1021/acssensors.0c00405)
- S.K. Sailapu, E. Macchia, I. Merino-Jimenez, J.P. Esquivel, L. Sarcina, G. Scamarcio, S.D. Minteer. L. Torsi, N. Sabaté, Standalone operation of an EGOFET for ultra-sensitive detection of HIV, Biosensors and Bioelectronics 156 (2020) 112103. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bios.2020.112103)
- A. Llorella, M. Navarro-Segarra, I. Merino-Jiménez, J.P. Esquivel, N. Sabaté, Electro-fluidic timer for event control in paper-based devices, Microfluidics and Nanofluidics 24 (2020) 10. (https://doi.org/10.1007/s10404-019-2313-z)
- L. Ortega, A. Llorella, J.P. Esquivel, N. Sabaté, Self-powered smart patch for sweat conductivity monitoring, Microsystems and Nanoengineering Nature, 5 (2019) art. no. 3, (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41378-018-0043-0)
- Y. Montes-Cebrián, L. del Torno-de Román, A. Álvarez-Carulla, J. Colomer-Farrarons, S.D. Minteer, N. Sabaté, P.Ll. Miribel-Català, J.P.Esquivel, ‘Plug-and-Power’ Point-of-Care diagnostics: A novel approach for self-powered electronic reader-based portable analytical devices, Biosensors and Bioelectronics 118 (2018) 88-96. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bios.2018.07.034)
- L. del Torno-de Román, M. Navarro, G. Hughes, J.P. Esquivel, R.D. Milton, S.D. Minteer, N. Sabaté, Improved performance of a paper-based glucose fuel cell by capillary induced flow, Electrochimica Acta 282 (2018) 336-342. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2018.05.074)
- J.P. Esquivel, P. Alday, O.A. Ibrahim, B. Fernández, E. Kjeang, N. Sabaté, A Metal-Free and Biotically Degradable Battery for Portable Single-Use Applications, Advanced Energy Materials 7 (2017) 1700275 (https://doi.org/10.1002/aenm.201700275)
- M.J. González-Guerrero, F.J. del Campo, J.P. Esquivel, D. Leech, N. Sabaté, Paper-based microfluidic biofuel cell operating under glucose concentrations within physiological range, Biosensors and Bioelectronics 90 (2017), 475-480. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bios.2016.09.062)
- J.P. Esquivel, J.R. Buser, C.W. Lim, C. Domínguez, S. Rojas, P. Yager, N. Sabaté, Single-use paper-based hydrogen fuel cells for point-of-care diagnostic applications, Journal of Power Sources 342 (2017), 442-451. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2016.12.085)
- Maria José González-Guerrero, F. Javier del Campo, Juan Pablo Esquivel, Fabien Giroud, Shelley D. Minteer, Neus Sabaté, Paper-based enzymatic microfluidic fuel cell: From a two-stream flow device to a single-stream lateral flow strip, Journal of Power Sources (2016) 326, 410–416. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2016.07.014)
- I. Garbayo, D. Pla, A. Morata, L. Fonseca, N. Sabaté, A. Tarancón, Full ceramic micro solid oxide fuel cells: towards more reliable MEMS power generators operating at high temperatures, Energy and Environmental Science 7 (2014), 3617-3629. (https://doi.org/10.1039/C4EE00748D) This paper was selected to illustrate the journal cover.
- J.P. Esquivel, F.J. Del Campo, J.L. Gómez de la Fuente, S. Rojas, N. Sabaté, Microfluidic fuel cells on paper: meeting the power needs of next generation lateral flow devices, Energy and Environmental Science 7 (2014) 1744-1749. (https://doi.org/10.1039/C3EE44044C) This work was highlighted as Editor’s choice in SCIENCE journal’s issue of 14 March 2014 and also in Chemistry World. It has also had impact on Spanish media (newspapers and radio).
Conferences
ALWAYS SEARCHING THE BEST TALENT
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OUR CONTRIBUTION
Tech Transfer
In 2015 Sabaté co-founded FUELIUM SL, a CSIC spin-off that develops and commercializes paper-based batteries for the cosmetic and portable diagnostic sector. The business idea was initially supported by the Repsol Entrepreneurs Fund and received seed funding from the NEOTEC program (Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation).
More information about the company and technology at www.fuelium.tech.
In July 2021 Sabaté co-founded SWEANTY SL together with three researchers from her team with the aim of promoting and commercializing the self-powered sweat patch technology developed in the SUPERCELL project and matured in the D2PATCH and POWERPATCH projects. Currently the company is in the business plan development phase and is preparing to raise public-private capital.
Learn more about the company and technology at www.sweanty.tech.
