Biomimetic-Inspired Infrared Sensors from Zn3P2 Microwires: Study of Their Photoconductivity and Infrared Spectrum Properties

Abstract

The fire beetle, Melanophila acuminata (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), senses infrared radiation at wavelengths of 3 and 10–25 microns via specialized protein-containing sensilla. Although the protein denatures outside of a biological system, this detection mechanism has inspired our bottom-up approach to produce single zinc phosphide microwires via vapour transport for IR sensing. The Zn3P2 microwires were immobilized and electrical contact was made by dielectrophoresis. Photoconductivity measurements have been extended to the near IR range, spanning the Zn3P2 band gaps. Purity and integrity of the Zn3P2 microwires including infrared light scattering properties were confirmed by infrared transmission microscopy. This biomimetic microwire shows promise for infrared chip development.

Differential protein folding and chemical changes in lung tissues exposed to asbestos or particulates

“…The background signal was taken in a region close to the sample deposited directly on BaF 2 or in air for samples deposited on ultralene. Chemical images were processed using OPUS 6.5 software (Bruker Optics GmbH) and HyperSpec 35 . The second derivative of the spectra was calculated applying a Savitsky–Golay algorithm with 13 smoothing points.…”