By American Chemical Society
December 8, 2021
This versatile nicotine sensor connects to skin, continually determining the wearers direct exposure. Credit: ACS Sensors 2021, DOI: 10.1021/ acssensors.1 c01633.
Some research studies have revealed that nicotine, an addictive substance in e cigarettes, increases the danger of respiratory and cardiovascular conditions. To get a full understanding of its potential health effects, a real-time nicotine monitoring device is needed. Such a device could also help vapers– as well as non-vapers who encounter second-hand smoke– measure their direct exposure. Now, researchers report in ACS Sensors that they have developed a battery-free, wearable gadget that could achieve this task.
Current assays for measuring ambient nicotine levels are carried out in lab settings and require big sample volumes and days to weeks of sampling. Portable nicotine sensors are being developed as an alternative, however the two that have actually been reported are not practical due to the fact that they rely either on the existence of sweat or sunshine to function. Ataur Rahman and Philipp Gutruf set out to design a light-weight, wearable sensor capable of finding nicotine in real time and sending the information wirelessly to electronic gadgets such as a smartphone.
The group picked vanadium dioxide (VO2) on a polyimide substrate as the basis for their sensor. They showed that nicotine can bond covalently to a thin film of VO2, thereby altering the films conductivity to a degree that depends upon nicotine concentration. The gadget finds the change in conductivity, amplifies the signal and then transmits it wirelessly to a smart device. When applied to skin, the battery-free sensor can determine the users direct exposure to vaporized nicotine in open air. The scientists state this technique broadens using wearable electronics for real-time tracking of dangerous compounds in the environment.
Portable nicotine sensors are being established as an option, however the 2 that have been reported are unwise since they rely either on the existence of sweat or sunlight to work. Ataur Rahman and Philipp Gutruf set out to design a lightweight, wearable sensing unit capable of discovering nicotine in genuine time and sending out the data wirelessly to electronic gadgets such as a smart device.
They revealed that nicotine can bond covalently to a thin movie of VO2, consequently modifying the films conductivity to an extent that depends on nicotine concentration. When applied to skin, the battery-free sensing unit can measure the users direct exposure to vaporized nicotine in open air.
Reference: “Nicotine Sensors for Wearable Battery-free Monitoring of Vaping” 8 December 2021, ACS Sensors.DOI: 10.1021/ acssensors.1 c01633.
The authors acknowledge financing from the Australian Research Council.