In a bustling lab nestled within the Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMS), a trailblazing research team was rewriting the future of environmental monitoring and personal health diagnostics.
Led by Dr. Jongwon Yoon, Dr. Jeongdae Kwon, and Dr. Yonghoon Kim, the team embarked on a journey to overcome the challenges posed by traditional ammonia gas sensors—devices vital for detecting airborne ammonia in industrial settings, environmental monitoring, and even disease diagnosis.
The problem was clear. Conventional sensors relied on copper bromide (CuBr) films created through high-temperature vacuum processes exceeding 500°C. These methods limited the sensors’ adaptability to flexible substrates, raising costs and constraining innovation. But the team dared to think differently.
Dr. Yoon and his colleagues envisioned a new world where sensors weren’t just rigid instruments but dynamic tools capable of bending and flexing with human movement. They designed a groundbreaking technique that transformed copper nanosheets into CuBr films using a low-temperature solution, operating below 150°C. This approach eliminated the need for vacuum processes and laid the foundation for flexible, cost-effective sensors.
World’s first ultra-thin film that absorbs all electromagnetic waves
The result was remarkable. Their ammonia gas sensor, implemented on a plastic substrate, could detect ammonia concentrations as low as one part per million (ppm). Tested through over 1,000 bending cycles, the sensor retained its exceptional performance and functionality, proving its potential for wearable applications.
Standing in the lab, Dr. Yoon marveled at the possibilities. “This sensor could revolutionize personal health management,” he explained, envisioning devices that analyzed exhaled breath for medical diagnoses. His words carried hope for a future where technology fused seamlessly with human needs.
As the researchers celebrated their accomplishment, the lab buzzed with excitement. Their work wasn’t just a technological leap but a testament to ingenuity, collaboration, and the drive to make the world a safer, healthier place.
The ammonia sensor was more than a device—it was a beacon of innovation, signaling science’s limitless potential to reshape lives.
Journal Reference:
- Juyoung Jin, Hyojin Bang et al. Low-temperature solution-processed flexible NH3 gas sensors based on porous CuBr films derived from 2D Cu nanosheets. Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical. DOI: 10.1016/j.snb.2025.137567
Source: Tech Explorist
