Detecting Fires Faster with UV

Mar-03-15 An ultra-violet fire detector that is 10,000 times more sensitive to UV light than traditional detectors could be used to detect fires at a much earlier stage.

Traditional fire detectors are able to detect large smoke particles, but they miss the smaller particles found in rapidly burning fires. To create a more sensitive detector, researchers from Surrey University grew zinc oxide nanowires and nano-syringes on the electrodes of the device, creating a bristle-like surface instead of a flat film. By doing so, they increased the surface area of the detector, improving its speed and sensitivity to smaller particles.

The detector could have other applications as well, including being incorporated into personal electronics in order to increase their processing speed.

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[CO.UK]
[SURREY.AC.UK]

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