Instant Air Pollution Sensor
|Source: NTU Singapore|
Real-Time Detection of Toxic Gases & Chemicals in the Air
Researchers at Nanyang Technological University - NTU Singapore - have invented a sensor that can identify a wide range of airborne gases and chemicals instantly. This includes gas leaks and pollution toxins both indoors and outside. The prototype device is portable and made for rapid deployment by agencies to identify airborne hazards immediately.
Seconds Fast Results
Current technology can require up to a few days to identify specific toxins in the air. This new sensor is made for emergency situations that require quick and ongoing analysis. The device is composed of a chip made from a porous nanomaterial that traps gas particles. A laser beamed on the chip interacts with the gas molecules to produce a lower energy light. That light is analyzed by a camera to see if its spectroscopic signature matches known toxic gases. It provides a "chemical fingerprint" of the gas in just ten seconds, not days. Importantly, the camera analysis can be done at a distance, keeping the responders in a safer location. This new, innovative sensor technology was just reported by scientists at NTU Singapore.