Novel Hydrogen Sulfide Sensors for Portable Monitors

描述(由申请人提供)：纳米材料研究这个SBIR项目的主要目标是设计、开发和演示一种更好的传感器技术来检测硫化氢。硫化氢是一种无色、易燃、剧毒的气体，它与血液中的酶发生反应，在高浓度时抑制细胞呼吸，它实际上可以关闭肺部，而较低的浓度可能会灼伤呼吸道并引起眼睛刺激。这种气体在广泛的行业中都会遇到，并且已经为职业暴露建立了一些标准。职业安全与健康管理局允许的暴露极限(PEL)是10ppm，短期暴露极限(STEL)是15ppm，由于在低浓度下可能对健康产生不利影响，工业卫生界不断寻求提高硫化氢传感器的性能具体要求包括可靠和准确的实时检测、定量测量能力、低购买和生命周期成本、以及满足这些要求的低功耗(为了便携)传感器将在健康和安全领域得到大量应用此外，在泄漏检测、排放监测和过程控制方面存在几个潜在的副产品机会纳米材料的方法是使用替代陶瓷氧化物材料，工作计划包括传感器材料的优化、传感器元件的制造、传感器元件的封装、传感器的内部和外部评估，并为新仪器的开发奠定基础。最终目标是一种低成本、低功率的传感器，可以用于新型个人监视器。设想的监视器是一种低调的、信用卡大小的“智能卡”，它不仅可以在遇到不安全浓度时向佩戴者发出警报，还可以跟踪工人对特定有毒气体物种的累积暴露。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Nanomaterials Research's primary objective for this SBIR project is the design, development, and demonstration of a better sensor technology for the detection of hydrogen sulfide Hydrogen sulfide is a colorless, flammable gas that is highly toxic It reacts with the enzymes in the blood that inhibit cell respiration At high concentrations, it can literally shut off the lungs, while lower levels can burn the respiratory tract and cause eye irritation This gas is encountered in a wide range of industries, and a number of standards have been established for occupational exposure The OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) is 10 ppm, the Short Term Exposure Limit (STEL) is 15 ppm, and exposures of 300 ppm or greater are considered immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH) Because of the potential for adverse health effects at low concentrations, the industrial hygiene community is continually seeking improved performance from hydrogen sulfide sensors Specific requirements include reliable and accurate detection in real time, quantitative measurement capabilities, low purchase and life cycle costs, and low power consumption (for portability) Sensors meeting these requirements will find numerous applications within the health and safety field In addition, there are several potential spin-off opportunities in leak detection, emission monitoring, and process control Nanomaterials' approach is to utilize alternative ceramic oxide materials, and a unique multilayer fabrication process to accomplish the objectives of this project The work plan includes optimization of the sensor materials, sensor element fabrication, sensor element packaging, in-house and external evaluation of the sensors, and establishing the foundation for new instrument development The ultimate aim is a low-cost, low-power sensor that can be used in a new type of personal monitor The envisioned monitor is a low profile, credit card sized "smart-card" that can not only alert the wearer when unsafe concentrations have been encountered but also to track cumulative individual worker exposure to a particular toxic gas species.