Improving Indoor Air Quality for All
The problem: The air inside our homes, schools and offices is often more polluted than the air outside. Everyday items like cleaning products, candles and furniture can release harmful chemicals like formaldehyde, which poses a serious health risk.
The solution: At 麻豆村, National Science Foundation-funded researchers have developed a revolutionary new technology: a low-cost, long-lasting sensor to detect formaldehyde. By applying a unique polymer nano-coating, they've extended the sensor's lifespan by over 200%, making it a reliable and affordable tool for public health.
The impact: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has found that the concentrations of some pollutants can be two to five times higher indoors than outdoors. Since the average person spends about 90% of their time indoors, these pollutants can pose a greater health risk than outdoor pollution.
- The new sensors enable individuals and organizations to make informed decisions about indoor air quality, helping to reduce exposure to harmful pollutants.
- This same technology could be used to create more efficient and longer-lasting batteries for everything from electric cars to smartphones, or to develop sensors for industrial safety to detect dangerous gases in factories.
This foundational research fuels a wide range of future technologies, strengthening America's economic competitiveness.
Go deeper: Improving Indoor Air Quality With More Effective, Long-Lasting Sensors