| abstract |
A spectrometer can include a plurality of semiconductor nanocrystals. Wavelength discrimination in the spectrometer can be achieved by differing light absorption and emission characteristics of different populations of semiconductor nanocrystals (e.g., populations of different materials, sizes or both). The spectrometer therefore can operate without the need for a grating, prism, or a similar optical component. A personal UV exposure tracking device can be portable, rugged, and inexpensive, and include a semiconductor nanocrystal spectrometer for recording a user's exposure to UV radiation. Other applications include a personal device (e.g. a smartphone) or a medical device where a semiconductor nanocrystal spectrometer is integrated. |