Graphene Sensor Could Fight Sick Building Syndrome

May-07-16 Researchers have created an ultra-thin, graphene-based sensor able to detect air pollution in the home while using very little power.

The sensor was developed in part to help detect “sick building syndrome,” which is the name given to the health problems associated with the volatile compounds inside some building materials and goods. Since these chemical gases have very low concentrations, it has been hard to detect these household pollutants.

To aid in this pollutant detection, the researchers developed a graphene-based sensor made up of a graphene beam 300 nanometers long. The beam is suspended over a gold electrode on a silicon substrate, which an electric field applied. When a gas molecule is adsorbed into the graphene, it will change the electrical resistance of the material, signaling the presence of the pollutant.

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[CO.UK]
[SOUTHAMPTON.AC.UK]

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