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Friday, 7th October 2005 (5619 views)

Scientists working at the University of Nebraska have used gold electrodes and gold nanoparticles, in conjunction with bacteria and synthetic protein, to create a humidity sensor.

Reporting on his work on the online site Physorg, Ravi Saraf explained the basic principles behind the research.

Gold formed a central part of the experiments: after being coated with a suspension of the bacteria Bacillus cereus, a gold electrode covered chip was dipped into a further solution of gold nanoparticles before being coated with a synthetic protein.

This process results in gold-nanoparticle-coated bacteria that are still alive. When humidity is increased or decreased, the bacterial membranes swell, causing the gold particles to become further apart and thereby hindering the electrical flow between them.

The chip responds to an electrical current, changing it when humidity is increased or decreased.

According to Mr Saraf: "Our humidity sensor demonstrates the vast potential that lies in hybrid structures containing micro-organisms and nanoparticles."

 

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