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News From the Field

New Material Could Improve Safety for First Responders to Chemical Hazards


April 29, 2011

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Carbon nanofibers with the same chemical properties as the activated charcoal used in respirators have a similar ability to absorb chemical pollutants. Their photonic structure means that they will change color as pollutants accumulate, a warning that the filter canister has lost effectiveness. Researchers describe how they made the microsensors and demonstrate their ability to detect volatile organic compounds in a recent issue of Advanced Materials.Full Story

Source
University of California, San Diego

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