Doctor Who's famous sonic screwdriver may be an invention of science fiction, but a team of scientists at the Australian National University could help to make it a reality.

Physicists Marcus Doherty and Michael Barson have created a prototype for a handheld device that will be able to analyse an object's chemical properties, similar to the device used on the TV show.

ANU physicists Marcus Doherty (left) and Michael Barson have come up with a design for a device that can analyse an object's chemical properties. Credit:ANU

Dr Doherty, who had been working with quantum microscopes for the past 10 years, said the idea for the device came about after realising it would be possible to combine the technology with diamond nanobeads.

"It's very close to the idea of an MRI image of a single molecule that will give us the ability to identify what is in that molecule," he said.