News From the Field
New Material Could Improve Safety for First Responders to Chemical Hazards

April 29, 2011

Carbon nanofibers with the same chemical properties as the activated charcoal used in respirators have a similar ability to absorb chemical pollutants. Their photonic structure means that they will change color as pollutants accumulate, a warning that the filter canister has lost effectiveness. Researchers describe how they made the microsensors and demonstrate their ability to detect volatile organic compounds in a recent issue of Advanced Materials. Full Story

Source
University of California, San Diego

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