Polyoxometalate/Graphene Gas Sensor Coupled with Infrared Motion Detector for Human Proximity Sensor Array

In Topic DTRA143-001, a need has been identified to improve monitoring human presence near containers, stored items, and secured areas in order to monitor activities, particularly in remote locations that are not patrolled all day every day. The use of smart materials to detect human presence by sensing volatile organic compounds emanating from the human body is a major area of interest within the monitoring and surveillance field. To address this need, International Scientific Technologies, Inc., in conjunction with Ferrum College, proposes the development of polyoxometalate-based oxyanions immobilized on graphene to detect specific vapor-phase compounds emitted by humans. Graphene is used in the polyoxometalate sensor as a high surface-to-volume substrate, providing high sensitivity with small sample volumes. Phase I Technical Objectives include selection of polyoxometalate sensor materials for human proximity detection, fabrication of electronic vapor sensor, measurement and test of electronic-nose sensing response to simulated breath exhalant and simulated alkaline or acidic perspiration, and design and initial development of a multimodal array. The anticipated result of the Phase I and Phase II programs is the development of a smart material sensor array for human presence detection in proximity to containers.