The new sensor is based on the intrinsic properties of the material to detect external information, and its basic properties are inseparable from the properties of the core materials that make up the sensitive components. For example, a photosensitive sensor can be made by changing the characteristics of a material under illumination, and a magnetic sensor can be made by changing the characteristics of a material under the action of a magnetic field. In general, the phenomenon of changing the properties of a material under external conditions is referred to as various effects, and theoretically, these effects can be used as the basis for the sensor. The new sensor directly uses the various effects of the material, omits multiple conversion links, and integrates the sensitive element and the conversion element, which is conducive to the solidification of the HBM sensor, reducing the volume, eliminating the movable part, and improving the reliability. In addition, new sensors are often produced using microelectronics technology, which is easy to mass-produce, ensuring consistency and reducing production costs.
Generally speaking, sensors can be divided into three categories according to external information and transformation effects:HBM sensors, physical, chemical, and biosensor. Physical sensors use physical effects to process physical signals such as light, sound, and magnetism, and their research and development history is relatively long and the technology is relatively mature. Among them, electrons play a role in conducting electricity, so it is relatively easy to develop. Chemical sensors mainly use chemical effects to detect the type and concentration of chemical substances. Ions play a role in conducting electricity. Due to the wide variety of ions, chemical sensors are diverse, complex, and difficult to develop.
Biosensors are sensors built by using the ability of biologically active substances (such as molecules, cells, and even certain biological tissues) to select the properties of certain substances, such as glucose sensors formed by the combination of glucose and microelectrodes. Biosensors have a relatively short history of research, but they are developing rapidly. With the progress of semiconductor technology, microelectronics and biotechnology, the performance of biosensors will be further improved, and multi-functional, integrated and intelligent biosensors will become a reality with broad development prospects.