QUT Awarded $1.3 Million to Develop Nano-Sensors

Summary posted by Meridian on 5/20/2009
Source: Queensland University of Technology
Author: n/a

The Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Australia, has received a US$1 million grant from the State Government to create a new class of solar-powered nano-sensors capable of detecting pollution and monitoring the environment in remote areas. The nano-sensors will consist of carbon nanotubes covered with sensing molecules, and nanowires of metallic oxide, resulting in a sensor with a huge surface exposure that is more sensitive than conventional flat sensors. The device, which could be placed where needed and is in a self-contained box, is powered by solar cells. Nunzio Motta, lead researcher and professor in QUT's School of Engineering Systems, said the sensors have the potential to revolutionize current farming and environmental management techniques, adding that up until now it has been too costly and difficult to collect and monitor data about the environmental conditions in remote areas. Motta said "[T]hese sophisticated nano-sensors which we are developing and which will use very little power, will provide a more accurate picture of what is happening in the environment, and will help farmers monitor their crops in remote areas....This will provide a low-cost method to monitor air, water, land and crop conditions, and assist in the control of pollution levels and gas and carbon emissions." The article can be viewed online at the link below.

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our team contact us site map	QUT Awarded $1.3 Million to Develop Nano-Sensors Summary posted by Meridian on 5/20/2009 Source: Queensland University of Technology Author: n/a The Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Australia, has received a US$1 million grant from the State Government to create a new class of solar-powered nano-sensors capable of detecting pollution and monitoring the environment in remote areas. The nano-sensors will consist of carbon nanotubes covered with sensing molecules, and nanowires of metallic oxide, resulting in a sensor with a huge surface exposure that is more sensitive than conventional flat sensors. The device, which could be placed where needed and is in a self-contained box, is powered by solar cells. Nunzio Motta, lead researcher and professor in QUT's School of Engineering Systems, said the sensors have the potential to revolutionize current farming and environmental management techniques, adding that up until now it has been too costly and difficult to collect and monitor data about the environmental conditions in remote areas. Motta said "[T]hese sophisticated nano-sensors which we are developing and which will use very little power, will provide a more accurate picture of what is happening in the environment, and will help farmers monitor their crops in remote areas....This will provide a low-cost method to monitor air, water, land and crop conditions, and assist in the control of pollution levels and gas and carbon emissions." The article can be viewed online at the link below. The original article may still be available at www.news.qut.edu.au/cgi-bin/WebObjects/News.woa/wa/goNewsPage?newsEvent... As tagged by Meridian Institute: Energy: Solar Implications: Human Enhancement, Governance, Economic Competitiveness Nanomaterials: Carbon Nanoparticle, Metal Nanoparticle Regions: East and South Asia and the Pacific Stakeholders: Government, Academia Minerals And Metals: Metals Food And Agriculture: Agriculture, Crops, Sensors Related Forums: Metals and Minerals Food and Agriculture Economic Competitiveness Governance print format	NDN Home Subscribe Manage Subscription Search News Archives Nanotechnology Quintuples Heating Capacity of Solar Water Heaters -- Renewable Energy Magazine (9/1/2010) Researchers at the University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Brazil, have developed a solar heating system that uses nanotechnology to heat water to five times the temperature of a conventional system, while also permitting the collector surface area to retain up to 98 percent of heat from solar radiation. [More] Pakistan's Science Minister Attacks Funding Cuts -- SciDev.Net (9/1/2010) The Pakistan government has cuts its funds for the Pakistan Ministry of Science and Technology's 2010-2011 budget by almost half, causing the science minister, Muhammad Azam Khan Swati, to criticize his own government. [More] Nanotechnology: Small wonders -- Nature (9/1/2010) This article takes an in-depth look at the United States National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI)'s first 10 years - to find out where the money went and what the initiative plans to do next. [More] Nanotech on Farmers' Fields -- Silicon Nutrition (8/31/2010) A plant nutrition study that addresses nano-sized plant nutrients is now available from the Landbouwkundige Uitgeverij G.C. van den Berg (Veenendaal, The Netherlands). [More] More News... Learn how to include these headlines on your own website by clicking here. Please email us if you require text-only versions of the daily emails.