According to a study published in the journal Scientific Reports, researchers at Tufts University in the United States have successfully developed a new type of chemical thread when it detects a special gas. Will change color. This thread can be used to make clothing to help detect toxic gases.

Sameer R. Sonkusale, professor of electrical and computer engineering at Tufts University, said that the current monitoring of polluting gases or harmful gases still requires the use of specialized sensors and equipment, and the new chemical thread developed this time can combine sensors with clothing, laboratory coats. Even a regular T-shirt can detect a specific gas.

In addition to helping scientific observation, this thread can also help people avoid dangerous gases. ¡°When you wear clothes made of chemical silk, you can realize the presence of dangerous gases before entering a dangerous environment,¡± said Samir Sankusei.

Rachel E. Owyeung, a graduate student in engineering at Samir Sancuuse and Tufts University, used a scientific approach when experimenting with scientific proofs. They soaked the threads in gas detection dyes, including manganese-based dyes, tetraphenyl manganese porphyrin, methyl red and bromothymol blue. Among them, tetraphenyl manganese porphyrin and bromothymol blue dye react with ammonia, while methyl red is used to detect hydrogen chloride. The researchers then treated the dyed silk with acetic acid. It is reported that acetic acid will expand the silk thread, enlarge the dyeing area of the thread, and thus increase the probability of the yarn reacting with the target gas molecule. Finally, the researchers treated the silk with polydimethylsiloxane. Polydimethylsiloxane is breathable but rejects water and prevents the dye from oozing out during the washing process.

The researchers pointed out that the dyes used in the experiments changed color when reacting with gas molecules with specific chemical properties, and the change in color reflects the intensity of the target gas concentration. In addition, these dyes react to a variety of air polluting gases, including nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide and acetaldehyde.

Researchers at Tufts University hope to combine this chemical wire with other technologies to create smart clothing. Professor Sangkusai said that many ways to apply chemical threads, such as electrochemical sensors, microfluidics and drug delivery, have been explored. Next, they plan to use the wire to test different gases in various environments.