A new class of chemical sensors based on LEDs
Scientists from the University of Wisconsin-Medisonskogo has once again proved that the LED, which is used in thousands of consumer electronics products, versatile material and has a variety of applications.
In a study published in the Jan. 25 issue of the journal Nature, the scientists illustrate how chemicals can alter the surface structure of materials of the LED, causing vibrations contribute to the intensity of light. This mechanism can be applied to the use of LEDs in a simple but highly sensitive systems that warn of the presence of certain chemicals in the air or water.
There are works hard to make the sensors as small as possible, so that they are more versatile and are used across the economy. Will be possible to use these sensors in home systems to control the availability of smoke (fires), radon or carbon monoxide in the room. They can also be used to monitor air and water pollution, both indoors and outdoors.
LED micro device, made of semiconductor material that converts electric energy into visible light. Attracting the most commercial potential of the technology - its simplicity. Conventional sensors - much more sophisticated devices made of different materials and are very sensitive to the environment.
Therefore, their use in various purposes in water and in the air, they require different technologies for creating and sealing, in order not to be affected by the harmful effects of the environment in which they produce measurements. LED chemical sensors do not suffer from such problems, and use only one technology for their creation, can afford to create such a device that can find the most diverse range of their practical application. It is very flexible and can be adjusted sensors to detect all of the ammonia in chemical plants, to biological molecules in military facilities.
