Smartphone sensor detects toxic gases
When gases are irradiated with infrared light, they absorb some of the light frequencies. Spoiled meat, leather and methane, which can be produced in coal mines, can be detected with different frequencies.
Have a small tunable infrared spectrometer for rapid detection of spoiled meat or toxic gases Researchers at the University of Melbourne in collaboration with colleagues at the University of California, Berkeley develops. The device is so compact that it could be integrated into next-generation smartphones.
Key Black Phosphorus
When gases are irradiated with infrared light, they absorb some of the light frequencies. From what remains, the composition of the gas can be determined. If infrared light of different frequencies is used, different gases become identifiable. "To achieve this, we deposited a thin layer of black phosphorus crystals on a flexible substrate," says Kenneth Crozier of the University of Melbourne.
Depending on their bending state, the phosphor crystals emit infrared light of different frequencies that can be matched to the suspected gas - spoiled meat, leather and methane, which can be produced in coal mines, can all be detected at different frequencies. "We actually achieve strong frequency changes when we bend the tiny platelet," adds Ali Javey of the University of California at Berkeley.
For meat eaters and firefighters
According to the scientists, such a device could be integrated into a refrigerator. It would trigger an alarm if it detected the gases that are typical of spoiled meat. It could also be sent over a fire with a drone to check whether toxic gases are produced that would threaten the firefighting team.
