The Centre of excellence for transformative meta-optical systems was established by the Arc.
The nitrogen dioxide sensor could help protect the environment from pollutants that cause lung disease.
A sensor made from an array of nanowires, in a square one fifth of a millimeter per side, has been developed by researchers from the Australian Research Council Center of excellence for transformative meta-optical systems.
The sensor requires no power source as it runs on its own solar powered generator, according to research published in the latest edition of Advanced Materials.
As we integrate devices like this into the sensor network for the internet of things technology, having low power consumption is a huge benefit. If the sensor detected dangerous levels of nitrogen dioxide in the exhaust, it would sound an alarm and send an alert to your phone.
The device is just the beginning, according to the co-lead author. It could be adapted to detect other gases, such as acetone, which could be used as a non-invasive breath test of ketosis, which could save many lives.
Trained operators are required for existing gas detectors. The new device can quickly and easily measure less than 1 part per billion and the TMOS prototype used ausb interface to connect to a computer
Nitrogen dioxide is a pollutant. It contributes to acid rain and is dangerous to humans. It is a pollutant that comes from cars and gas stoves.
The key to the device is a PN junction in the shape of a nanowire that sits on a base. The array of solar cells formed the sensor.
The whole device was made from indium phosphide, with the base doped with zinc and the N section at the tip of the nanowires doped with Silicon. The P and N sections were separated by the middle part of each wire.
A small current flows between the N and P sections when light falls on the device. If nitrogen dioxide touches the middle section of the junction it will cause a dip in the current.
The amount of nitrogen dioxide in the air can be calculated using the size of the dip. The design and fabrication of the PN junction are important to maximize the signal.
Nitrogen dioxide's characteristics make it easy to distinguish it from other gases. Functionalizing the indium phosphide nanowire surface could be used to improve the sensor.
Professor Lan Fu says the ultimate goal is to sense multiple gases on a single small chip. The sensors could be used for breath tests for disease markers.
The small gas sensor is easy to integrate and scale. The combination of this and meta-optics will allow them to fit into smart sensor networks. TMOS is a network of research groups dedicated to the advancement of this field.
The technologies we develop will transform our life and society in the future, with large-scale implementation of Internet of Things technology for real-time data collection and self-response in applications such as air pollution monitoring, industrial chemical hazard detection, smart cities, and personal health care.
There is more information on A SelfPoweredPortableNanowireArrayGas Sensor for Dynamic NO 2 Monitoring at Room Temperature. There's a book called "10.1002/adma.202207199."
Journal information: Advanced Materials
The Centre of excellence for transformative meta- optical systems is provided.
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