EXP-SA: Development of highly sensitive ultrafast micro gas chromatography for explosive detection

提出了一种基于毛细管光学环形谐振器(CBORR)的新型微气相色谱(GC)系统，用于快速、高灵敏和准确的爆炸物检测和识别。长期目标是利用在光子传感器、微流体、微制造、生物/化学传感和GC方面的研究，开发下一代便携式爆炸物探测器，用于战场和国土安全。为此，有四个具体目标：1.CBORR传感器的系统制造、理论分析和实验表征；2.基于CBORR的实验室GC系统的构建和表征；3.验证从基质样品中快速和灵敏地检测爆炸物；4.通过各种培训场所对高中、本科生和研究生进行教育。智能优点：建议的GC使用薄壁微细玻璃毛细管，其内表面涂有用于气体分离的固定相。毛细管的圆形横截面形成一系列光学环谐振器，能够检测在毛细管中流动的分析物。这种新型的传感架构结合了(1)GC的分离和分析能力；(2)光学环形谐振器的高灵敏度和柱上阵列检测；(3)毛细管固有的出色的流体处理能力，从而能够以极高的速度(3秒)和最小的误报从高度干扰的背景中灵敏地(1皮克)和准确地识别爆炸物。通过拟议的研究开发的设备将在现场可部署爆炸物探测器的速度、化学分辨和分析物范围方面提供显著改进。它还将在环境监测、分析化学和医疗保健方面有广泛的应用。该团队包括学术界(密苏里州哥伦比亚大学)和工业界(ICx Nomadics)。更广泛的影响：通过Nomadics的实习计划，学生将有一个在工业环境中进行研究的绝佳机会。几门本科课程正在开发中，旨在向学生介绍生物/化学传感的研究前沿。调查人员将利用现有的校园项目，让代表不足的学生群体参与研究。将扩大到K-12学校的范围，让更多的高中生参与实验室研究。

It is proposed to investigate fundamental and engineering aspects of a novel micro gas chromatography (GC) system using capillary-based optical ring resonators (CBORRs) for rapid, highly sensitive and accurate explosive detection and identification. The long-term goal is to leverage research in photonic sensors, microfluidics, microfabrication, bio/chemical sensing, and GC to develop next-generation portable explosive detectors for applications in battlefield and homeland security. Toward this end, there are four specific objectives: 1. Systematic fabrication, theoretical analysis, and experimental characterization of the CBORR sensor; 2. Construction and characterization of the laboratory GC system based on CBORR; 3. Validation of rapid and sensitive detection of explosives from matrix samples; 4. Education of students at the high school, undergraduate, and graduate levels through various training venues. Intellectual Merit: The proposed GC utilizes thin-walled micro-sized glass capillaries whose interior surface is coated with the stationary phase for gas separation. The circular cross section of the capillary forms a series of optical ring resonators capable of detecting analytes flowing in the capillary. This novel sensing architecture combines (1) separation and analysis power of GC; (2) high sensitivity and on-column array detection of optical ring resonators; and (3) excellent fluid handling capability inherent to capillaries, thus enabling sensitive ( 1 picogram) and accurate identification of explosives from highly interfering background with extremely high speed ( 3 second) and minimal false positives. The device developed through the proposed research will provide dramatic improvements in the speed, chemical discrimination, and range of analytes of field-deployable explosive detectors. It will also have a wide range of applications in environmental monitoring, analytical chemistry, and health care. The team involves both academia (University of Missouri Columbia) and industry (ICx Nomadics). Broader Impact: Through the internship program at Nomadics, students will have an excellent opportunity to conduct research in an industrial setting. Several undergraduate courses are under development to introduce research frontiers in bio/chemical sensing to students. The investigators will make use of existing campus program to involve underrepresented student groups in the research. Outreach to K-12 schools will be expanded to involve more high school students in lab research.