DEVELOPMENT OF A NOVEL ELECTROCHEMICAL HYDRAZINE SENSOR

THE DEVELOPMENT OF A RELIABLE, INEXPENSIVE, COMPACT SENSOR CAPABLE OF DETECTING 10 PPB UNSYMMETRICAL DIMETHYLHYDRAZINE, HYDRAZINE, AND MONOMETHYLHYDRAZINE WITH A RESPONSE TIME OF 10 MINUTES OR LESS IS PROPOSED. DURING PHASE I OF THE PROPOSED PROGRAM WE WILL DEVELOP AN ELECTROCHEMICAL SENSOR CELL BASED ON A PERFLUOROCARBON ANION SOLID POLYMER ELECTROLYTE. NOVEL METHODS TO MINIMIZE INTERFERENCE FROM OTHER ATMOSPHERIC CONTAMINANTS WILL BE INVESTIGATED. A BREADBOARD PROTOTYPE SENSOR WILL BE FABRICATED AND TESTED TO ESTABLISH THAT THE SENSOR FULFILLS THE SENSITIVITY, SELECTIVITY, REPRODUCTIBILITY, RESPONSE TIME, AND STABILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PROPOSED APPLICATION. THE PROJECTED COST OF THE UNIT IN PRODUCTION QUANTITIES IS EXPECTED TO BE LESS THAN $200. FOR PERSONNEL PROTECTION, RELIABLE, SENSITIVE SENSORS ARE REQUIRED EVERYWHERE HYDRAZINE FUELS ARE MANUFACTURED, STORED, OR USED. GOVERNMENT APPLICATIONS INCLUDE MONITORING OF AIR FORCE ROCKET INSTALLATIONS AND NASA FACILITIES. COMMERCIALLY, HYDRAZINE SENSORS ARE REQUIRED IN THE PLASTICS, AGRICULTURAL, AND PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES.