QCM: Virtual Sensor Arrays, GC and Molecular Weight Detection

通过这一奖项，化学系化学测量和成像计划资助路易斯安那州立大学的Isiah Warner教授及同事开发新型复合材料，该复合材料由一组基于有机盐的均匀材料(GUMBOS)与精选聚合物组合而成，用于使用石英晶体微天平(QCM)检测和测定挥发性有机化合物(VOC)的分子量。这些基于GUMBOS的复合材料旨在为一般类别的化合物或一小部分密切相关的化合物提供选择性。这些复合材料在快速和灵敏地检测化合物方面具有明显的优势，例如苯、甲醇和其他对环境测量重要的化合物。这项工作的更广泛的影响被科学地解决了，因为QCM的进一步发展将促进其在许多其他需要分子量和化学性质信息的领域的使用。此外，研究团队以招募、保留和指导代表不同人群的STEM学生和专业人员而闻名，他们中的许多人来自STEM领域代表性不足的群体。这项研究是基于这样一个发现：通过使用某些粘弹性材料作为传感器，在QCM测量过程中同时获得的两个参数(Delta-f/Delta-R)的比率可以提供吸附分子的分子量估计。这项研究分为三个不同的领域：1)检查复合材料的详细特性，以便将这些信息用于设计和开发用于选择性测定某些类别或结构的分析物的纯离子液体、GUMBOS和复合材料；2)详细研究传感器阵列，使其能够全面表征挥发性有机化合物(VOC)的混合物；以及3)开发通过气相色谱分离的VOCs检测和分析的QCM和一种新型的便携式QCM。

With this award, the Chemical Measurement and Imaging Program of the Chemistry Division is funding Professor Isiah Warner and colleagues at Louisiana State University to develop novel composite materials derived from a Group of Uniform Materials Based on Organic Salts (GUMBOS) in combination with select polymers for detection and molecular weight determination of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) using a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM). These GUMBOS-based composites are designed to provide selectivity for a general class of compounds or for a small group of closely related compounds. These composite materials have distinct advantages for rapid and sensitive sensing of compounds such as benzene, methanol, and other compounds important to environmental measurements. The broader impacts of this work are addressed scientifically in that the further development of the QCM will advance its use in many other fields where both molecular weight and chemical property information is desired. In addition, the research team is known for its recruitment, retention, and mentoring of STEM students and professionals that represent diverse populations, many of whom come from groups that are underrepresented in STEM fields. This research is based on the discovery that by use of certain viscoelastic materials as sensors, the ratio of two parameters (delta-f/delta-R) simultaneously acquired during QCM Measurements can provide molecular weight estimates of absorbed molecules. The research is divided into three distinct areas: 1) examination of the detailed characteristics of the composite materials such that this information will be used to design and develop pure ionic liquids, GUMBOS, and composites for selective determination of certain classes or structures of analytes; 2) detailed studies of sensor arrays which will allow comprehensive characterization of mixtures of volatile organic compounds (VOCs); and 3) development of the QCM for detection and analyses of VOCs separated by use of gas chromatographs and a novel portable QCM.