US researchers develop yarns that change colour in the presence of gases

摘要

Dyed cotton yarns that change colour when exposed to a variety of gases have been developed by engineers at Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts, USA. The researchers have demonstrated that a visual check - or a smartphone camera where more precision is required - can be used to detect colour changes in these yarns, which can be caused by analyte concentrations of as low as 50 parts per million. When incorporated into clothing, the yarns could provide a re-usable, washable and affordable safety device for those working in medical, military and rescue environments.