SBIR Phase I: Precision Refractometry for Chemical Detection

这个小型企业创新研究第一阶段项目描述了一种紧凑且低成本的基于光学的系统，用于快速检测化学品。探测器系统依赖于对薄膜聚合物涂层中吸收的分析物的折射率变化的精确测量。与现有方法相比，激光的长相干长度在灵敏度和稳定性方面具有显著的优势。将在第一阶段的工作中论证可行性，并进行旨在监测微量水蒸气的原则性实验；第二阶段将产生一个完全设计和表征的原型系统。一种紧凑型、高灵敏度的气体和液体中特定化学物质的监测仪将在环境和工业检测领域得到广泛的应用。已经确定了用于空气和水质量监测、挥发性有机化合物监测和微量水分监测的大型商业市场。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project describes a compact and low-cost optical based system for the rapid detection of chemicals. The detector system relies on precision measurements of refractive index changes from analytes absorbed within a thin film polymer coating. Significant advantages in sensitivity and stability are obtained from the long coherence length of a laser compared to existing methods. Feasibility will be demonstrated during the Phase I effort with a proof of principle experiment designed to monitor trace amounts of water vapor; Phase II will result in a fully designed and characterized prototype system. A compact, high sensitivity monitor of specific chemicals in both vapor and liquid having modest cost of material would find wide spread application in the areas of environmental and industrial detection. Large commercial markets have been identified for air and water quality monitoring, the monitoring of volatile organic compounds, and trace moisture