EXP-SA: A Lateral Field Excited Acoustic Wave Sensor for Peroxide-Based Explosives

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0730753VetelinoThe proposal deals with the development of field deployable detector for peroxide-based explosives. The detector consists of AT-cut quartz piezoelectric sensing element(s) coated with selectively sorbent polymer film(s) and associated sensor electronics.Intellectual Merit:The candidate films will be functionalized on the quartz surface of the LFE sensing platform and exposed to peroxide-based IEDs and the materials used to fabricate them under simulated conditions. Critical sensor element properties such as the response level, response time, detection limit, resolution, and linearity will be measured and the selectivity will be determined by exposing the sensor to known concentrations of chemical simulants. In addition the admittance of each sensor element will be measured to isolate mechanical and electrical property changes in the film so as to identify the unique chemical signature of each analyte and provide a higher degree of selectivity. Sensor electronics will be designed and fabricated resulting in a handheld electronic unit. The sensor electronics will simultaneously process the output from five LFE sensing elements and provide a digital readout. Finally, the prototype sensor unit will be assembled and tested for the detection of PBEs and the materials commonly used to fabricate them.Broader Impacts:The development of a detector for PBEs will demonstrate that cutting edge research at the University of Maine will benefit homeland security, the military. A successful demonstration of a field deployable detector for PBEs will motivate the development and commercialization, by small sensor businesses, of similar sensors for homeland security, military, health, agricultural, automotive, and environmental applications.