Terahertz Sensing Chip Meta Unit for Pesticide Residue Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for analyzing pesticide residues are time-consuming and limited to selected samples, requiring a technique for rapid and accurate detection of trace amounts on food crops.
Innovation Solution
A method using a sensing chip with a meta unit patterned to amplify terahertz electromagnetic waves, allowing for sensitive and selective detection and analysis of pesticide residues by measuring changes in transmittance and frequency shift, applicable to curved surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional extraction and purification methods are used for pesticide residue analysis, then measurement accuracy can be maintained, but the analysis time is excessively long and only selected samples can be processed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential detection function from the complex conventional analysis process. By using a sensing chip with meta units that directly detect pesticide residues through terahertz wave interaction, the time-consuming extraction and purification steps are eliminated while maintaining detection capability for pesticide residues on the surface of objects
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/chemical extraction and purification system with an electromagnetic field-based detection system. Terahertz waves interact with pesticide residues through the sensing chip to produce characteristic absorption spectra, enabling direct detection without physical sample preparation
2Measurement precision
If conventional detection methods are used, then the process is simple, but the sensitivity is insufficient to detect trace amounts of pesticide residues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the detection parameter from visible or infrared light to terahertz waves, which have frequencies that match the molecular vibration and rotation modes of pesticide molecules. This parameter change enables highly sensitive detection of trace amounts by exploiting the characteristic absorption fingerprints of pesticides in the terahertz frequency range
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the vibrational and rotational modes of pesticide molecules in the terahertz frequency range. The meta units in the sensing chip are designed to resonate at frequencies that match pesticide absorption frequencies, amplifying the interaction between terahertz waves and pesticide residues to enhance detection sensitivity
3Measurement precision
If a sensing chip with meta units is used to amplify terahertz waves, then detection sensitivity increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible substrate for the sensing chip that can be conformally applied to the surface of objects with various shapes. This flexible film approach simplifies the overall device structure compared to rigid complex optical systems, while the meta units patterned on the flexible substrate provide the necessary frequency amplification functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from traditional bulk optical components to two-dimensional meta unit patterns on a flexible substrate. This dimensional reduction simplifies the device structure by replacing complex three-dimensional optical paths with planar patterns that can be directly contacted with the sample surface
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables rapid and accurate detection of trace pesticide residues with high sensitivity and selectivity, facilitating quantitative analysis and application to various shapes and forms of objects.
Implementation Method 1
a pattern is formed for amplifying a frequency corresponding to an absorption frequency of a pesticide residue of interest
Implementation Method 2
amplifying a frequency corresponding to an absorption frequency of a pesticide residue of interest
Implementation Method 3
measuring changes in transmittance and frequency shift of the light reflected from the target pesticide residues
Implementation Method 4
measuring changes in transmittance and frequency shift of the light reflected from the target pesticide residues
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are a method and device for sensing pesticide residues, using terahertz electromagnetic waves. By the method, even a trace amount of pesticide residues on objects such as fruits can be accurately discriminated and sensed, with high sensitivity and selectivity, using a sensing chip that works in a terahertz electromagnetic wave band. Using the method, pesticide residues even at low concentrations can be accurately analyzed with high sensitivity and selectivity in which terahertz electromagnetic waves are irradiated onto pesticide residues through a sensing chip having a meta unit in which a pattern is formed to amplify a frequency corresponding to an absorption frequency of a pesticide residue of interest.