Chemical Dynamics of Gas Adsorption and Desorption on Organic Sensor Films

美国国家科学基金会化学部的分析和表面化学项目支持加州大学圣地亚哥分校（UCSD） Kummel教授的研究项目。Kummel教授和他的学生研究爆炸分子如何被有机薄膜吸收并改变其电学性质；电性能的变化被用来检测爆炸分子的存在，从而产生一个传感器。这种传感器类似于为计算机供电的晶体管，但它是由有机材料而不是硅制成的，因为有机材料会吸收周围空气中的气体。加州大学圣地亚哥分校开发的薄膜可以识别过氧化物；过氧化氢传感对于检测简易爆炸装置（ied）以及手术设备、药品供应和生物净化消毒至关重要。使用一组有机传感器薄膜，可以检测到更多的外来化合物，包括神经毒剂和挥发性有机化合物，这在霉菌传感中很重要。该项目为研究生和本科生在对美国国家安全具有重要意义的科学领域提供了良好的培训机会。

The Analytical and Surface Chemistry Program of the Division of Chemistry at NSF supports the research program of Prof. Kummel of the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). Prof. Kummel and his students investigate how explosive molecules absorb onto organic films and change their electrical properties; the change in electrical properties is used to detect the presence of the explosive molecules thereby creating a sensor. The sensors are similar to the transistors which power computers but are made of organic materials instead of silicon because organic materials absorb gases from ambient air. The films developed at UCSD can identify peroxides; peroxide sensing is critical for the detection of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) as well as sterilization of surgical equipment, pharmaceutical supplies, and bio-decontamination. Using an array of organic sensor films, more exotic compounds can be detected including nerve agents and volatile organic compounds which are important in mold sensing. The project provides excellent training opportunities to graduate and undergraduate students in a scientific area of great significance to US national security.