Hairlike microsensors are 1000 times smaller, more sensitive

17 Jun 2002

Researchers at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) developed microscopic hairlike, silicon-based devices are at least 1,000 times more sensitive and 1,000 times smaller than currently used sensors. Each microsensor spans the width of a human hair. They can detect and measure relative humidity, temperature, pressure, flow, viscosity, sound, natural gas, mercury vapor, and ultraviolet and infrared radiation. They show potential as biosensors-devices that can detect DNA sequences and proteins. For this innovation, developers Thundat, Eric Wachter, Mitch Doktycz, Rick Oden, and Bruce Warmack were elected to the International Hall of Fame of the Inventors Clubs of America.