Novel Sensor for Human VOC Signature Identification

The need to identify threats from individuals and groups is ever increasing for both identification of known individuals and persons of interest within the Department of Defense. Advancement in differential sensing techniques could allow the development of sensing platforms that include the ability to respond specifically to individual volatile organic compounds (VOC) and complex volatile organic compound profiles. Lynntech proposes the development of a low-power, hand-held array-based sensor that incorporates structural nanofeatures and tailored surface chemistries, capable of responding to specific and complex VOC inputs and identifying VOC signatures. During the Phase I project, Lynntech developed and tested an array-based sensor and successfully detected targeted VOCs. During the Phase II project, a prototype will be fabricated, tested, and delivered to DOD. BENEFIT: The proposed sensor will be of particular interest to the federal government (e.g., DOD, DOE, NASA, and NIH) and private industries that require monitoring individual VOC and complex VOC profiles, VOC profiles including identification of persons of interest. Other business opportunities are in the Gas and Chemical Industries and Regulatory Agencies (chemical and explosive detectors), environmental remediation (detection of regulated chemicals in waste effluents, drinking water), food, beverage, and perfume industries (to determine odors and aromas), agronomic industries (to monitor pesticides), medical industry (point-of-care diagnostic instrument), and homeland security (detection of chemical vapors associated with weapons of mass destruction).