Capacitive Sensing for Magnetic Nanoparticles in Molecular Communication

Molecular Communication provides a solution for scenarios where conventional technologies for data transmission are not feasible due to energy or size constraints. The development and characterisation of sensor devices for information particles as receivers is an essential step to realising Molecular Communication setups. In this work we will present a new device for sensing of magnetic nanoparticles using a capacitor to detect changes in permittivity. The sensor was evaluated regarding sensitivity and a data transmission scenario in a testbed and compared to an inductive sensor. The new sensor device has a significantly higher sensitivity than the reference sensor, allowing for the use of less information particles when transmitting data. However, the impulse response is wider as magnetic nanoparticles are held in the electromagnetic field of the receiver’s capacitor.