Nano sensors are extremely small level integrated sensors which are used to detect changes in physical parameters like temperature, pressure etc. on very small scale.
Nano sensors contain materials which are called nanomaterials and which do all the magic at nano scale level or nano particle level. Some of the examples of nanomaterials are Fullerence, Carbon nanotubes (used in manufacturing of small electronic components like transistors).
These sensors are the future of sensors that we are using currently in our daily life. Conventional sensors are quite big and less efficient in comparison with the nano sensors.
Because of their extremely small size nano sensors can directly interact with molecules and detect the changes occurs in them.
Let’s talk a little about fabrication of transistors which is fundamental component of all the I.C. (Integrated Circuits). We have seen the size of transistor changing form few inches (Triode) to 10 nm (Used in latest processors like Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845, Samsung’s Exynos 8895 and many more) since the transistor first invented in 1948 at Bell Laboratories.
There is a law regarding the size of transistor that could be possible to reduce after every 2 years and this is called Moore’s law. Moore’s law states that “Number of transistor in a dense Integrated Circuit doubles approximately every two years”.
Carbon nanotube field effect transistor (CNFET) refers to a transistor that uses a carbon nanotube/s to transfer the electron from source/emitter to drain/collector of the transistor where this tube works as a channel inspite of using bulk Silicon/ Germanium. First component of this type was first demonstrated in 1998.
Samsung, TSMC, Intel and other big manufacturers of chips are working on the 7nm fabrication technology which will see in few days.
Applications of Nano Sensors
- Biomedical Science (to detect the beginning of dangerous diseases like Cancer)
- Extremely small size embedded systems
- Space exploration
- Research labs. Etc.
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