Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab have developed a new type of nanoscale force sensor that can measure forces with fine spatial resolution over a broad range. The “all-optical” sensors use luminescent nanocrystals and respond to mechanical stress by changing their intensity and/or color, allowing for remote readouts without physical connections.
The innovation is expected to significantly enhance optical force sensors’ sensitivity and dynamic range, transforming fields such as robotics, cellular biophysics, medicine, and space travel. The new nanosensors can perform continuous force monitoring at the scale of subcellular structures all the way up to whole systems, making them ideal for studying forces in both engineered and biological systems.
The team created these nanosensors by harnessing the photon-avalanching effect in nanocrystals, which is highly sensitive to several parameters, including spacing between lanthanide ions. The researchers found that even gentle forces significantly affected the avalanching behavior, much more than they had expected.
This breakthrough has significant implications for various fields, including human health and energy sustainability. The sensors will enable early detection of malfunction or failure in systems, allowing for proactive maintenance and improvement. The team plans to integrate these ultrasensitive force sensors into critical systems, such as developing embryos, where the sensor design seeks to incorporate self-calibrating capabilities directly into the nanocrystals.
This development is a major step forward in advancing optical force sensing technology, offering new possibilities for precision measurement and control in various applications.
Source: https://www.techexplorist.com/new-all-optical-nanoscale-sensors-force/95237