Stabilized Chemisorptive Microsensor Arrays for Small Molecule Gas Detection

The release of hazardous chemical vapors has the potential for severe casualties, and the detection of such chemicals is therefore critically important for homeland security. Despite this threat, there exists no commercially available, portable gas detection product that can quickly and cost-effectively sense most hazardous gases. In this Phase II project, we will develop a prototype gas detection system for reactive small molecule gases using a new generation of stable chemisorptive sensor materials that are highly sensitive towards reactive small molecule gases and that can withstand repeated exposures to multiple reactive analytes. The sensor arrays will be fabricated using techniques developed in Phase I that were shown to greatly enhance response stability, and the detection system will incorporate new drift-compensation algorithms. Performance characteristics of the prototype system will be validated with a broad range of hazardous chemical vapors of interest to DHS. In a continuing Phase III effort, we will optimize the prototype system for real-world environments and develop a production-ready system.