A team of researchers from Columbia Engineering and Lawrence Berkeley National Lab has developed a new generation of nanoscale sensors that can measure mechanical forces with unprecedented sensitivity and dynamic range. These “all-optical” nanosensors are based on luminescent nanocrystals that respond to light, allowing for fully remote read-outs without the need for wires or connections.
The new sensors have 100 times better force sensitivity than existing nanoparticles and span a much larger range of forces, from piconewtons to micronewtons. This breakthrough enables researchers to probe previously inaccessible environments and study complex systems in greater detail.
The scientists achieved this by exploiting the photon-avalanching effect within nanocrystals, which is an extremely nonlinear and volatile process that responds to gentle forces. By designing new nanoparticles with unique optical properties, the team created sensors that can detect even the slightest changes in force.
These innovative sensors have far-reaching implications for various fields, including robotics, cellular biophysics, medicine, and space travel. They will enable researchers to monitor the health of complex systems, detect malfunction or failure, and make significant contributions to human health, energy, and sustainability.
The team plans to apply these sensors to studying developing embryos and other critical systems, where they can achieve significant impact. They are also working on adding self-calibrating functionality to the nanocrystals, which will enable each sensor to function independently.
This breakthrough is a testament to the power of interdisciplinary research and collaboration between experts in materials science, optics, and engineering. The development of these all-optical nanoscale sensors marks a new frontier in sensing technology, offering unprecedented capabilities for probing mechanical forces in complex systems.
Source: https://phys.org/news/2024-12-optical-nanoscale-sensors-access-previously.html