Tiny, self-powered sensor for future hydrogen economy

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This is a close-up image of a tiny hydrogen sensor developed by University of Florida engineering researchers. The sensor uses extremely small zinc oxide nanorods located within the black dots in the triangular base to gauge the amount of hydrogen in ...
This is a close-up image of a tiny hydrogen sensor developed by University of Florida engineering researchers. The sensor uses extremely small zinc oxide nanorods, located within the black dots in the triangular base, to gauge the amount of hydrogen in the air. To power the sensor, the researchers designed a novel device that harvests energy from vibrations where the sensor is placed. A tiny wireless transmitter enables the sensor to transmit its results to a central base station.

Hydrogen has been called “the fuel of the future.” But the gas is invisible, odorless and explosive at high concentrations, posing a safety problem for hydrogen-powered cars, filling stations and other aspects of the so-called hydrogen economy.


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All News summaries for May 24, 2006