Stadler uses nanotechnology to build next-generation sensors
Drawing faculty from many disciplines, nanotechnology is one of the hottest fields at the University of Minnesota today. Beth Stadler, an assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, is one of many Institute of Technology faculty involved in nanotechnology, the constellation of research and development work at the nanometer range (one-billionth of a meter).
Stadler uses nanotechnology to create sensors for sound and smell. Nanostructures are used to provide the quality of the sensors she builds: the sensors for sound detection use magnetic wires (ranging in size from 10-350 nm in diameter) and the gas sensors for environmental detection use a three-dimensional lattice resembling a sponge (with the sponge's pores ranging in size from 300-900 nm in diameter).