University of Surrey's Ultra-Violet Light Detector For Fire Alarms & Increased Speed In Gadgets
Whenever there's a fire, the photo-electric smoke sensors in use today can efficiently detect large smoke particles, but are of little or no use if the smoke particles are really small. Rapidly burning fires can cause much damage if these small smoke particles are not detected immediately. Keeping that problem in mind, a team of researchers from University of Surrey have come up with a technique that involves manipulation of zinc oxide to produce nanowires from a new material so as to develop an ultra-violet light detector that is 10000x more sensitive to UV light than the traditional smoke detectors. The team from the University's Advanced Technology Institute claims that the new material is capable of increasing the sensor's sensitivity so that it detects smoke at the fire's early stage.
Interestingly, the applications of such a technology are not limited to detecting smoke (and subsequently setting a fire alarm). The team has taken the material a step further to increase its performance drastically. They converted the zinc oxide from a flat film to a nanowire structure, thereby increasing surface area, resulting in increased sensitivity and reaction speed.
Such a modern ultra-violet light detector can be used in a wide range of applications such as - air pollution monitoring, personal electronic devices (smartphones and tablets) to increase speed, with a 1000x faster response time. The brilliance of the concept lies in the fact that, the nanowired material is not only adaptable for personal use, but it's highly affordable. We imagine that the field of flexible electronics must be already knocking on the doors of their laboratory.
What are your thoughts about the research work? Share with us in comments below.
Source: <a href="https://www.surrey.ac.uk/features/improved-fire-detection-new-ultra-sensitive-ultraviolet-light-sensor" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Improved fire detection with new ultra-sensitive, ultraviolet light sensor | University of Surrey</a>
Interestingly, the applications of such a technology are not limited to detecting smoke (and subsequently setting a fire alarm). The team has taken the material a step further to increase its performance drastically. They converted the zinc oxide from a flat film to a nanowire structure, thereby increasing surface area, resulting in increased sensitivity and reaction speed.
Such a modern ultra-violet light detector can be used in a wide range of applications such as - air pollution monitoring, personal electronic devices (smartphones and tablets) to increase speed, with a 1000x faster response time. The brilliance of the concept lies in the fact that, the nanowired material is not only adaptable for personal use, but it's highly affordable. We imagine that the field of flexible electronics must be already knocking on the doors of their laboratory.
What are your thoughts about the research work? Share with us in comments below.
Source: <a href="https://www.surrey.ac.uk/features/improved-fire-detection-new-ultra-sensitive-ultraviolet-light-sensor" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Improved fire detection with new ultra-sensitive, ultraviolet light sensor | University of Surrey</a>
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