Solar Powered Nano Sensor Prototype Developed By QUT Students
@kunal-jbK6WG
•
Oct 24, 2024
Oct 24, 2024
1.1K
Scientists all around the world are in search of a network of pollution detecting devices that will give a real time feedback of the concentration of greenhouse gases and other photochemical pollutants in the air. Now, the students at the Queensland University of Technology have designed an environmental nano sensor that works on solar energy. This prototype is being developed by Alexander Malaver with principal supervisor Professor Nunzio Motta of QUT and co-supervisors Professors Peter Corke and John Bell. A solar powered sensor station has been installed on QUT’s Garden point roof that will monitor the real time concentration levels of climate changing pollutants. It is part of the international study of solar powered nano sensors.
#-Link-Snipped-#
According to post graduate student Malaver of the QUT school of engineering, the sensor station is a prototype for the sensors that will for a global network of strategically located devices that can monitor the amount of three gases: nitrogen dioxide (NO2), nitrous oxide (N2O) and ammonia (NH3). N2O is emitted by vehicles and industries while the other two gases originate from manures and fertilizers. These pollutants are more dangerous as compared to carbon dioxide but are not so popular because of their negligible presence in the atmospheric air. The objective of the study is to let the people know about the contents of the air that they are breathing and to let them know when the levels get dangerously high.
The sensors can be could be connected wirelessly so that every node can communicate with all the other nodes. This would enable real time data transfer from ant node to the central monitoring and processing system. The prototype sensor had already started collecting vital information and stats that could be accessed by any computer in the QUT network. These technologically advanced sensors are powered by dye-sensitized third generation solar cells that store energy just like the photosynthetic plants. The sensors are using the metal oxide nano wires and carbon nano tubes for detecting these nitrogen compounds. The sensors use solar cells that are cheaper than the traditionally used silicon based cells. They work more efficiently in low light conditions. The sensors are designed and manufactured by QUT research partner, University of Brescia; the solar cells are created by the University of Roma Tor Vergata with the Australian company Dyesol’s patent, under the National and International Research Alliances Program Queensland Government Smart Futures Fund. Let’s hope that a network of such sensors can be established as soon as possible and that the technology can be used to reduce the effects of pollution.
Image Credit: #-Link-Snipped-#
#-Link-Snipped-#
According to post graduate student Malaver of the QUT school of engineering, the sensor station is a prototype for the sensors that will for a global network of strategically located devices that can monitor the amount of three gases: nitrogen dioxide (NO2), nitrous oxide (N2O) and ammonia (NH3). N2O is emitted by vehicles and industries while the other two gases originate from manures and fertilizers. These pollutants are more dangerous as compared to carbon dioxide but are not so popular because of their negligible presence in the atmospheric air. The objective of the study is to let the people know about the contents of the air that they are breathing and to let them know when the levels get dangerously high.
The sensors can be could be connected wirelessly so that every node can communicate with all the other nodes. This would enable real time data transfer from ant node to the central monitoring and processing system. The prototype sensor had already started collecting vital information and stats that could be accessed by any computer in the QUT network. These technologically advanced sensors are powered by dye-sensitized third generation solar cells that store energy just like the photosynthetic plants. The sensors are using the metal oxide nano wires and carbon nano tubes for detecting these nitrogen compounds. The sensors use solar cells that are cheaper than the traditionally used silicon based cells. They work more efficiently in low light conditions. The sensors are designed and manufactured by QUT research partner, University of Brescia; the solar cells are created by the University of Roma Tor Vergata with the Australian company Dyesol’s patent, under the National and International Research Alliances Program Queensland Government Smart Futures Fund. Let’s hope that a network of such sensors can be established as soon as possible and that the technology can be used to reduce the effects of pollution.
Image Credit: #-Link-Snipped-#