THIN MEMBRANE SENSORS

THIN FILM MEMBRANE-BASED SENSORS AND COMPONENTS SHOW PROMISE FOR A VARIETY OF GOVERNMENT AND COMMERCIAL USES. THEY OFFER POTENTIAL FOR VERY HIGH (UP TO 10(12)) AMPLIFICATION GAIN, DIME-SIZED DIMENSIONS, WITH SPECIFICITY AS DESIRED FOR BIOLOGICAL PROCESSES AND AGENTS. EXAMPLES MIGHT INCLUDE MICROBIAL PATHOGENS IN WATER OR MEDIA, INFECTIVE AGENTS OR FOOD SPOILAGE INDICATION, PLANT PATHOGENS, ALLERGENS, DRUGS OR HORMONES. DETECTION AT UNIT AGENT LEVELS APPEARS FEASIBLE ON A NEAR REAL-TIME BASIS. AT THE HEART OF THE SENSOR ARE A THIN MEMBRANE AND AN ELECTROCHEMICAL SWITCH. PHASE I RESEARCH FOCUSES ON THE PROPERTIES OF THE MEMBRANE WHICH CAN BE IMPROVED IN ORDER TO PERMIT AN ELECTRICALLY ACTIVE, AND MECHANICALLY STABLE SENSOR TO BE FABRICATED. SUBSEQUENT WORK, ANTICIPATED UNDERPHASE 2, ENCOMPASSES THE INCORPORATION OF THE MEMBRANE INTO AN ELECTRONIC READOUT SYSTEM, AND FABRICATION OF A WORKING PROTOTYPE. DURING PHASE 3, EFFORTS TO EXPAND THE RANGE OF CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL AGENTS WHICH CAN BE DETECTED BY THE DEVICE WILL BE UNDERTAKEN.