Posted on 07/29/2025 6:06:26 AM PDT by Red Badger
A team of engineers has unveiled a revolutionary mini-spectrometer that can fit on a fingertip and operate with low voltage, scanning light from UV to near-infrared in under a millisecond.
This game-changing device replaces bulky traditional spectrometers and could soon be embedded in smartphones, unlocking powerful tools for material analysis, biomedical diagnostics, and more—right in your pocket. Its tiny photodetector shifts light sensitivity with simple voltage changes, offering speed and precision in a package smaller than a pixel.
Breakthrough in Compact Spectrometry
Researchers have developed a groundbreaking spectrometer that is significantly smaller than existing models, yet still capable of precisely detecting light wavelengths across a broad range—from ultraviolet to near-infrared. This advancement opens the door to compact, handheld spectroscopy tools and could lead to the creation of high-resolution imaging spectrometers built from arrays of these miniature sensors.
“Spectrometers are critical tools for helping us understand the chemical and physical properties of various materials based on how light changes when it interacts with those materials,” says Brendan O’Connor, corresponding author of a paper on the work and a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at North Carolina State University. “They are used in applications that range from manufacturing to biomedical diagnostics. However, the smallest spectrometers on the market are still fairly bulky.
Tiny Spectrometer
Researchers have successfully demonstrated a spectrometer that is orders of magnitude smaller than current technologies and can accurately measure wavelengths of light from ultraviolet to the near-infrared. The technology makes it possible to create hand-held spectroscopy devices and holds promise for the development of devices that incorporate an array of the new sensors to serve as next-generation imaging spectrometers. This photo shows a series of prototype organic photodetector-based spectrometer cells. Each metal bar is a detector capable of measuring light spectra. Credit: Brendan O’Connor, NC State University
Spectrometer the Size of a Pixel
“We’ve created a spectrometer that operates quickly, at low voltage, and that is sensitive to a wide spectrum of light,” O’Connor says. “Our demonstration prototype is only a few square millimeters in size – it could fit on your phone. You could make it as small as a pixel, if you wanted to.”
This innovative design uses a miniature photodetector that can capture different wavelengths of light after it interacts with a given material. By adjusting the voltage applied to the photodetector, researchers can control which wavelengths it is most responsive to.
Millisecond-Speed Precision with Minimal Power
“If you rapidly apply a range of voltages to the photodetector, and measure all of the wavelengths of light being captured at each voltage, you have enough data that a simple computational program can recreate an accurate signature of the light that is passing through or reflecting off of the target material,” O’Connor says. “The range of voltages is less than one volt, and the entire process can take place in less than a millisecond.”
Previous attempts to create miniaturized photodetectors have relied on complex optics, used high voltages, or have not been as sensitive to such a broad range of wavelengths.
Performance Matches Conventional Devices In proof-of-concept testing, the researchers found their pixel-sized spectrometer was as accurate as a conventional spectrometer and had sensitivity comparable to commercial photodetection devices.
“In the long term, our goal is to bring spectrometers to the consumer market,” O’Connor says. “The size and energy demand of the technology make it feasible to incorporate into a smartphone, and we think this makes some exciting applications possible. From a research standpoint, this also paves the way for improved access to imaging spectroscopy, microscopic spectroscopy, and other applications that would be useful in the lab.”
Reference:
“Single-pixel spectrometer based on a bias-tunable tandem organic photodetector”
by Harry M. Schrickx, Abdullah Al Shafe, Caleb Moore, Yusen Pei, Franky So, Michael Kudenov and Brendan T. O’Connor, 22 July 2025, Device.
DOI: 10.1016/j.device.2025.100866
The paper, “Single pixel spectrometer based on a bias-tunable tandem organic photodetector,” is published in the journal Device. First author of the paper is Harry Schrickx, a former Ph.D. student at NC State. The paper was co-authored by Abdullah Al Shafe, a former Ph.D. student at NC State; Caleb Moore, a former undergraduate at NC State; Yusen Pei, a Ph.D. student at NC State; Franky So, the Walter and Ida Freeman Distinguished Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at NC State; and Michael Kudenov, the John and Catherine Amein Family Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at NC State.
The work was done with support from the National Science Foundation under grants 1809753 and 2324190, and from the Office of Naval Research under grant N000142412101.
But can your phone also make Julienne Fries?
“Spock’s Tri-corder”
Yeah, this capability was about the only thing left a phone will not do... I knew it was only a matter of time before they were full on Tricorders.
This is super cool. I wonder if it could be used to test rock samples in Gold hunting? Or maybe even date artifact stone strata associations?
>>>>I wonder if it could be used to test rock samples in Gold hunting?<<<<
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Mineral Analyzer App
Several apps are available for identifying minerals and rocks, offering features such as photo-based identification, detailed information about minerals, and tools for creating personal collections. One such app is “Rock Identifier: Stone ID,” which allows users to take or upload a photo of a rock or crystal and receive instant identification. The app provides detailed information including name, chemical formula, hardness, color variations, and locations where the mineral can be found.
It also includes features like a stone encyclopedia, real vs. fake gemstone identification, and a metal detector function to locate lost metal objects. The app offers a premium subscription for additional features.
Another app is “Stone Identifier Rock Scanner,” which enables users to identify rocks and crystals by taking a photo. It offers an impressive accuracy rate for gem identification and includes a user-friendly interface. The app allows users to create their own rock collections and provides rich learning resources about rocks.
For those interested in more advanced mineral analysis, there are also hardware solutions like the Portable Mineral Analyzer Genius 7000, which can test light elements such as Mg, Al, Si, P, and S, and includes a built-in GPS function for geological exploration.
Additionally, the TrueX Mineral Analyzer offers fast and precise elemental analysis with minimal sample preparation.
AI-generated answer. Please verify critical facts.
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apps.apple.com
Rock Identifier: Stone ID on the App Store
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play.google.com
Rock Identifier: Stone ID - Apps on Google Play
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classtechtips.com
Rock and Mineral Identifier App - Class Tech Tips
>> This is from a university and not a corporation seeking investor funding...
... yet. 😉
But your point is taken. I was thinking of Theranos — but she was a Stanford dropout — she wasn’t commercializing university research.
Yes, she was just a grifter, a higher class grifter, but a grifter just the same..............
That would be very cool. I would not be super interested in the photo stone type identification, that I can do pretty well with my eyes and knowledge. But I would be super interested if this particular phone spectrometer could give me a better idea of how rich that sample really is in the field without having to go through all the physical sample collection, >packing out<, and assay work. Scan it, check it, and drop it if it is not worth anything.
It sounds like it would be more sensitive than the portable mineral analyzers because of the broad wave spectrum it is capable of.
LOL!..................
We could definitely use this in our laboratory. It might not be GLP grade but good enough for process development.
Performance Matches Conventional Devices In proof-of-concept testing, the researchers found their pixel-sized spectrometer was as accurate as a conventional spectrometer and had sensitivity comparable to commercial photodetection devices.
Yeah man.
Everyone was waiting for a pocket spectrometer.
I know technology advances, but we are still limited by physics.
I don’t think it will have the same sensitivity as a lab spectrometer, but it would be useful in the field where you can do a high level analysis that is pretty accurate.
If I need a spectrometer in the field, I could see use for this to grab a clump of dirt, while you are looking for minerals for a quick analysis, before you spend thousands of dollars bringing in lab quality equipment.
At least that’s where I place it, but I could be wrong.
Universities exaggerate. A lot. In the press releases.
I’m not saying this is exaggerated, just pointing out the fact it comes from a university doesn’t necessarily make it more trustworthy.
And the universities will do a tech transfer, license to a company for development manufacture and marketing.
Uh, why would I want to carry one of these around in my pocket?
Full disclosure: I missed the boat completely on cell phones thinking that only a few big-shots would have any interest in carrying around a phone with them all of the time. Today, I have one.
“If I need a spectrometer in the field, I could see use for this to grab a clump of dirt, while you are looking for minerals for a quick analysis, before you spend thousands of dollars bringing in lab quality equipment.”
I agree. It would be great for prospecting. It would give you some idea on the spot of how rich an ore sample is before you even pack it out to process it later. And you would only have to mark a few locations on a map rather than a dozen different sample locations. It would cut out 95% of the time and work involved and let you cover much more area in an outing.
More useful than portable XRF?
ha,ha,ah,ha........
To say that shows that you have never been inside the research arm of a modern Uni — “modern” as in the last 50 years.
Back stabbing, lies, fraudulent data, etc. Think of all the yahoos pushing the global warming scam. Any time you try an pull in data for your own research you MUST corroborate it with at least one other source. Trust nothing.
Any time you walk down a hall you do so with your back to the wall — looks like a bunch of crabs scuttling about. :)
The hallowed ivy covered halls full of corruption????......Say it ain’t so!!!!!...............
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