A research team from Kyung Hee University in South Korea recently announced a new result: a fully transparent ultra-thin ultraviolet light (UVA) detector, which is expected to be integrated into smart watches or clothing, making UV protection more convenient and popular.
According to reports, the new ultraviolet light detector uses a transparent glass substrate, combined with a transparent oxide semiconductor element that specifically responds to UVA radiation, and finally uses indium tin oxide as the circuit layer to achieve an overall transparent and lightweight structure. This technology measures UVA intensity in real time and transmits electronic signals to external monitoring systems, such as smartphone apps. Unlike traditional wearable UV detectors, which are mostly opaque and have unreliable measurements, this sensor is easy to embed in smart watches, bracelets and even smart clothing due to its thin and transparent design, improving the flexibility and accuracy of practical applications.
UVA rays have wavelengths between 315 and 400 nanometers and can penetrate the skin and destroy cell structures, causing skin aging and even cancer. The research team said that monitoring UVA exposure is particularly important for skin health. The new prototype maintains high transmittance in the visible light range and has the best recognition ability for ultraviolet light in the 340 to 350 nanometer range.
The sensor is amplified by the circuit board signal and integrated with a Bluetooth module to achieve data synchronization with the smartphone. Team leader Professor Jiang Chengjun said that this technology is expected to become a standard feature of the next generation of wearable devices in the future, and it is not difficult to imagine that Apple may introduce it into future products such as Apple Watch Ultra.
The researchers also emphasized that this transparent UVA sensor can provide users with early warning of health risks such as skin cancer and help take effective protective measures. At the same time, this technology is expected to enhance South Korea's international competitiveness in the fields of transparent electronics and optical sensors, indicating that it may lead the industry's innovation trend in the next few years.