Plasmonic Nanosensors for Chemical Warfare Agents

This project will develop an integrated nanoplasmonic sensor Raman device to detect chemical warfare agents. The Raman device will be designed and produced by MKS Technology and will be cell-phone sized for portability. The device will: operate from 2-AA batteries; have a touch screen user-interface; will have Bluetooth connectivity, and will be ruggedized to MIL-STD-810G. The reader will have a raster scan system to permit high laser power excitation with the (NPMs) nanoplasmonic materials. The NPMs will be produced by iFyber and will have oxime coatings to react with the CW agent and enhance the sensitivity through resonance enhancement in addition to the plasmonic enhancement. The NPMs will be composed of a porous substrate with grafted nanoparticles that produce>107 enhancements. The porosity will permit forced air sampling to increase sensitivity. We will also begin work with Kodak to scale up the NPM production. The device and substrates will be evaluated and optimized at Northwestern University. Northwestern will use its advanced LSPR (localized-surface-plasmon-resonance) spectrometer to measure the efficacy of the iFyber materials and they will use their Raman systems to measure accurate enhancement factors. Northwestern will examine alternate materials as a risk reduction from the iFyber sole source.