GOALI: High Sensitivity Thermal Conductivity Sensor for Micro Gas Chromatography and Harsh Environment Chemical Detection

提案#0901702 GOALI：高灵敏度热导传感器用于微型气相色谱和恶劣环境化学检测PI：Xin Zhang研究所：波士顿大学摘要：该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。本研究的目标是开发一种高灵敏度，机械耐用和可批量生产的气体微型检测器，设计用于集成到便携式微型气相色谱系统中，能够与传统实验室仪器的性能相竞争。 所采取的方法将是通过对探测器有源元件的不同热通量路径进行建模、分析和测试来优化探测器的性能和灵敏度。 此外，还将进行建模和测试，以实现剧烈的机械冲击以及广泛的热和化学操作环境。在推动新型气体传感器和检测机制的过程中，几乎没有努力加强热导检测器，这是最古老的气体传感器之一。 然而，热导检测器是唯一适合小型化，因为它们是敏感的混合物中的物质的浓度，而不是样品的总质量，火焰离子化检测器和质谱仪的限制。 因此，采用热导检测器的气相色谱系统的小型化可以在处理较小样品质量的同时保持功能灵敏度，同时降低功耗并增加机械鲁棒性。开发一种高灵敏度，但简单和强大的检测器，集成到一个小型化系统中，将使应用气相色谱法能够对从医疗保健服务和国土安全到工业过程控制和地质勘探等领域产生影响。 在教育方面，该计划将通过合并微/纳米系统和工程教育研究来培养下一代科学/工程领导者，从而影响多样化的学生群体。

Proposal # 0901702GOALI: High Sensitivity Thermal Conductivity Sensor for Micro Gas Chromatography and Harsh Environment Chemical DetectionPI: Xin ZhangInstitute: Boston UniversityAbstract:This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).The objective of this research is to develop a highly sensitive, mechanically robust and mass producible gas micro-detector, designed for integration into a portable micro-gas chromatographic system capable of competing with the performance of traditionally laboratory instrumentation. The approach taken will be to optimize performance and sensitivity of the detector by modeling, analyzing and testing the different heat flux pathways from the active element of the detector. Furthermore, the modeling and testing will be performed to enable violent mechanical shocks and a wide range of thermal and chemical operating environments.In the push for novel gas sensors and detection mechanisms, little effort has been put into enhancing thermal conductivity detectors, one of the oldest gas sensors. However, thermal conductivity detectors are uniquely suited for miniaturization, since they are sensitive to the concentration of substances within a mixture, not the total mass of a sample, a limitation of flame ionization detectors and mass spectrometers. Therefore, miniaturization of gas chromatographic systems employing thermal conductivity detectors can maintain functional sensitivity while processing smaller sample masses, while simultaneously reducing power consumption and increasing mechanical robustness. The development of a highly sensitive, yet simple and robust detector, integrated into a miniaturized system will enable applied gas chromatography to make an impact on fields ranging from point of care health services and homeland security, to industry process control and geological exploration. Educationally, this program will impact a diverse student population through merging micro/nanosystems and engineering education research to train the next generation of scientific/engineering leaders.