Lightweight Sensor Badge Detects Toxic Gases

Researchers have developed a prototype wearable chemical sensor capable of detecting trace amounts of toxic gases. According to this article outlining the detection principles and describing the research, the technology paves the way for inexpensive radio-frequency identification (RFID)-style badges for personal safety and security. A smartphone or wearable device can periodically (and wirelessly) interrogate the badge using near-field communication (NFC), receiving a yes/no response as to whether the badge detects a target gas. For the future, the researchers plan a more sophisticated version that could explicitly report concentration levels.

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