Indoor air quality testing - concept image with check-up chart about indoor pollutants seen through a magnifying glass


Experts at Carnegie Mellon University have been studying indoor air quality (IAQ) for some time. They found that common items like cleaning products, candles and many household essentials emit formaldehyde, a chemical that harm human health. 

There are air quality sensors used to detect these indoor pollutants, but their lifespan is quite short. But researchers believe they can help create safer environments by extending the life of these sensors.

CMU researchers created a polymer coating and applied it to the sensors. According to reports, the sensor only lasted a little over two months without the coating. But when the polymer layer was applied, the sensor not only ran for more than five months, it detected formaldehyde more effectively.

To learn more about this and how researchers plan to apply the same methods to extend the life of batteries, click here.