SBIR Phase II: Development of a Broad Spectrum Differential Mobility Aerosol Analyzer for Aerosol Size Distribution Measurements

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will support the continued development of a new Synchronous Differential Mobility Analyzer (SDMA) aerosol sizing and counting system that is simple to use, inexpensive, and allows rapid observations of ambient particle number size distributions over the 0.005 to 0.4 micron diameter range. The new technology will largely eliminate the cost, size, weight, and operator-expertise limitations of currently available sizing technologies. Prototypes of the particle sizing, growth and optical detection systems will be fabricated and the instrument will be tested side-by-side against standard instruments in the laboratory. Broader impacts of the proposed research include satisfying the need for increased spatial and temporal coverage of ambient aerosol data while creating a measurement technique accessible to a more general group of users through reduced cost and ease of use. The broader application of the new technology will serve as an educational tool for students and investigators leading to more widespread understanding of how particle concentration varies with size in ambient, laboratory and industrial settings. Increased understanding of the variability of the ambient aerosol number size distribution will serve as important information for investigators in the areas of aerosol global climate and particulate pollution health impacts.