Microalgae Density Measurement Using Quantum-Dot-Integrated Sensing and Communication System

Assessing microalgae density is essential for microalgae cultivation and marine environmental surveillance. This study introduces a quantum dot (QD)-based visible light sensing and communication (VLSC) system that employs emissions spanning the blue, green, yellow, orange, and red spectra to evaluate the density of microalgae across different species and varying densities. The bit error rate (BER) of the VLSC system serves as an intermediate to calculate microalgae density under various data rates and light colors by fitting the linear area of BERs. Orange light demonstrates superior linearity, high optical power, rapid response, and high accuracy in assessing microalgae species of Euchlorocystis marina and Isochrysis galbana. The highest accuracy attained for I. galbana samples is 0.98, averaging at 0.79, when utilizing orange light. These values surpass those obtained through direct measurement of optical power. The proposed method offers high feasibility and adjustable color options for assessing microalgae density, showing potential for integration into smart illumination–sensor–communication systems aimed at microalgae cultivation and marine environmental monitoring.