MIT chemists design a quantum-dot spectrometer
MIT scientists have now shown they can create spectrometers small enough to fit inside a smartphone camera, using tiny semiconductor nanoparticles called quantum dots.
Such devices could be used to diagnose diseases, especially skin conditions, or to detect environmental pollutants and food conditions. If incorporated into small handheld devices, this type of spectrometer could be used to diagnose skin conditions or analyze urine samples. They could also be used to track vital signs such as pulse and oxygen level, or to measure exposure to different frequencies of ultraviolet light, which vary greatly in their ability to damage skin.
