A problematic adsorption effect can be used in the design of a remarkable new air pollution detector. Tiny micro-mechanical elements, thinner than a human hair, how could these fragile structures possibly be reliable? While trying to answer this question, Robert Kazinczi, of the faculty of Information Technology ands Systems, enjoyed a moment of serendipity.
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As he studied the reliability and long-term stability of tiny micro-mechanical resonators for his PhD, Kazinczi discovered that an adsorption effect that initially proved problematic, could later be used in the design of an air pollution detector.
Kazinczi has since demonstrated the new pollution detector, which can be integrated in an intelligent, self-sustaining system, switching and resetting itself with a purely electrical signal.
The detector also lasts for a very long time, unlike conventional chemical sensors, which usually need to be replaced when saturated. Kazinczi’s detector can be switched off and on and is self-cleaning. Such features are extremely valuable in environmental monitoring stations and for aerospace applications, where intelligent, low-power devices must be able to function without interruption for long periods of time. Like at the North Pole, for instance, where such a pollution detector system could function automatically, powered by solar cells and wirelessly transmitting collected data to the control center.
The detector’s sensing elements are crystalline silicon micro beams. By using multiple beams and integrated mechanical filters, the density and size distribution of air particles can be detected with great accuracy.
Tiny micro-mechanical elements, thinner than a human hair, how could these fragile structures possibly be reliable? While trying to answer this question, Robert Kazinczi, of the faculty of Information Technology ands Systems, enjoyed a moment of serendipity.
As he studied the reliability and long-term stability of tiny micro-mechanical resonators for his PhD, Kazinczi discovered that an adsorption effect that initially proved problematic, could later be used in the design of an air pollution detector.
Kazinczi has since demonstrated the new pollution detector, which can be integrated in an intelligent, self-sustaining system, switching and resetting itself with a purely electrical signal.
The detector also lasts for a very long time, unlike conventional chemical sensors, which usually need to be replaced when saturated. Kazinczi’s detector can be switched off and on and is self-cleaning. Such features are extremely valuable in environmental monitoring stations and for aerospace applications, where intelligent, low-power devices must be able to function without interruption for long periods of time. Like at the North Pole, for instance, where such a pollution detector system could function automatically, powered by solar cells and wirelessly transmitting collected data to the control center.
The detector’s sensing elements are crystalline silicon micro beams. By using multiple beams and integrated mechanical filters, the density and size distribution of air particles can be detected with great accuracy.
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