Patent ID: 8354647
Filing Date: 2013-01-15
Classification: B82Y,G01N

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for detecting the presence and concentration of a target substance in a solution through comparison of the differences in interfacial photo-voltages between a control solution and a target solution containing the target substance, wherein a photo-voltage active material is utilized which produces interfacial photo-voltage upon illumination and which produces a different amount of interracial photo-voltage upon illumination when in contact with said target substance, the apparatus comprising: a light source for illumination; a photo-voltage active material which produces interfacial photo-voltage upon illumination and which produces a different amount of interfacial photo-voltage upon illumination when in contact with said target substance, said photo-voltage active material being adsorbed onto the surface of an electrode positioned such that said photo-voltage active material is in contact with said target solution and such that said interfacial photo-voltage produced by said photo-active material upon illumination is transferred to said electrode; a digital signal processor in electrical communication with said electrode to detect said photo-voltages and to generate a signal for analysis; means to analyze said signal to determine the presence and concentration of said target substance.