Researchers have combined miniaturized hardware and intelligent algorithms to create a cost-effective, compact powerful tool capable of solving real-world problems in areas like healthcare.

The sensor achieves spectral differentiation through its electrical responses to light. The device can identify materials directly from their luminescence, including organic dyes, metals, semiconductors, and dielectrics. The device was exposed to a wide range of light colors, enabling it to learn and generate unique electrical fingerprints for each light type.

Measuring just 5 × 5 μm — an area 200 times smaller than the cross-section of a human hair — the device achieves an extraordinary peak wavelength identification accuracy of ~0.2 nm, enabling it to distinguish thousands of colors. At the core of this sensor is a carefully designed optoelectronic interface that enables precise control of electrical flow through voltage adjustments. (Image credit: Aalto University/Faisal Ahmed and Andreas Liapis)

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Topics:
Materials Medical Sensors

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