STTR Phase I: Microsensors for In-Situ, Real-Time Detection and Characterization of Toxic Oganic Substances

STTR 第一阶段：用于有毒有机物质原位实时检测和表征的微传感器

• 批准号: 9810551
• 负责人: James Carter
• 金额: $ 10万
• 依托单位: Environmental Engineering Group, Incorporated
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 1998
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1998-08-01 至 1999-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=9810551&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: STTR; Phase; Microsensors; Situ; Real

9810551Carter This Phase I Small Business Technology Transfer project aims to develop a novel microsensor for the in-situ, real-time detection of toxic organic chemicals. The proposed microsensor will be capable of operating under field conditions, with sufficient sensitivity to permit high detection rates, and with sufficient selectivity to prevent high false alarm rates. The proposed sensor is based on a combination of gravimetric sensing and the determination of the unique photothermal spectrum of an analyte and utilizes a wavelength dispersive device and a thermal infrared detector array. This sensing technique is capable of detecting the presence of minute amounts of organic analytes with increased sensitivity and selectivity. During the detection process the sample is allowed to interact/adsorb onto the coated surface of femto-joule sensitive thermal detector. The surface of the detector will be coated with an appropriate chemical layer which preferentially adsorbs/reacts with a category of chemicals similar to the target analytes. As molecules adsorb on the thermal detector surface, various physical changes can take place such as changes in the electrical resistance when a microbolometer is used or changes in the bending due to adsorption induced stress when a microcantilever thermal detector is used. This step provides the chemical detection sensitivity comparable to recent chemical detection technologies in addition to providing the required selectivity. In order to determine the specific identity of the adsorbed molecule, a photothermal spectrum is obtained by scanning a broadband wavelength region of the detector array with the aid of a wavelength dispersive device. For the wavelengths at which the adsorbed analyte absorbs photons, the temperature of those particular detector pixels will rise proportional to the amount of analyte deposited and heat absorbed. Since different pixels will be exposed to different wavelengths, an extremely sensitive and unique photothermal signature response can be determined. The chemical detector surface can be regenerated by ohmic heating of the detector element. Miniature toxic organic sensors offer both extremely high sensitivity and are easily miniaturized, and could be readily mass produced using standard IC fabrication technology for use in high volume commercial applications, including industrial process monitoring, air and water pollution control, air quality monitoring, as well as vehicle emission monitoring.

这个第一阶段的小企业技术转移项目旨在开发一种新型的微传感器，用于实时检测有毒有机化学品。拟议的微传感器将能够在现场条件下工作，具有足够的灵敏度以允许高检测率，并具有足够的选择性以防止高误报率。所提出的传感器基于重力传感和分析物独特光热光谱测定的组合，并利用波长色散装置和热红外探测器阵列。这种传感技术能够以更高的灵敏度和选择性检测微量有机分析物的存在。在检测过程中，允许样品相互作用/吸附到飞焦耳敏感热探测器的涂层表面。检测器的表面涂有适当的化学层，该化学层优先吸附/与与目标分析物相似的一类化学物质发生反应。当分子吸附在热探测器表面时，会发生各种物理变化，如使用微测热计时电阻的变化或使用微悬臂式热探测器时由于吸附诱导应力引起的弯曲的变化。除了提供所需的选择性外，这一步还提供了与最近的化学检测技术相当的化学检测灵敏度。为了确定被吸附分子的具体身份，借助波长色散装置扫描探测器阵列的宽带波长区域，获得光热光谱。对于被吸附的分析物吸收光子的波长，这些特定探测器像素的温度将与沉积的分析物和吸收的热量成比例地上升。由于不同的像素将暴露在不同的波长，一个非常敏感和独特的光热特征响应可以确定。化学探测器表面可通过探测器元件的欧姆加热再生。微型有毒有机传感器既具有极高的灵敏度，又易于小型化，并且可以使用标准IC制造技术轻松批量生产，用于大批量商业应用，包括工业过程监测，空气和水污染控制，空气质量监测以及车辆排放监测。