A MICROCHEMICAL DETECTION AND ALERTING SYSTEM

NEW AND IMPROVED CHEMICAL DETECTION AND ALERTING SYSTEMS ARE NEEDED FOR DEFENSE AGAINST CHEMICAL WARFARE AGENTS. ONE USEFUL APPROACH HAS BEEN THE DEVELOPMENT OF ELECTROCHEMICAL SENSORS AND SOME OF THESE ARE NOW IN PRODUCTION. HOWEVER, A MORE SELECTIVE, SENSITIVE, RUGGED, SMALL, AND LOWER COST SENSOR IS NEEDED. IN THE PROPOSED STUDY, TWO TECHNOLOGIES ARE COMBINED: ELECTROCHEMISTRY OR ELECTROCHEMICAL SENSORS AND MICRO-FABRICATION TECHNOLOGY. THE SENSING TECHNOLOGY NOW IN USE WILL BE MODIFIED AND MICROFABRICATED (MINIATURIZED). SEVERAL NEW MICROSENSOR STRUCTURES THAT OPERATE ON AN ELECTROCHEMICAL DETECTION PRINCIPLE WILL BE DESIGNED AND FABRICATED AND TESTED. THE ANALYTICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MODIFIED SENSORS (I.E., MODIFIED TO BE COMPATIBLE WITH MICROFABRICATION TECHNOLOGY) WILL BE USED TO ASSESS THE FEASIBILITY OF USING THESE SYSTEMS AS FIELD RUGGED LOW-COST ALTERNATIVES TO THE PRESENT SENSOR SYSTEMS. THIS APPROACH PROMISES TO OFFER SEVERAL ADVANTAGES INCLUDING SMALL SIZE, LOW-COST, CONTROL OF PURITY AND HENCE CHEMICAL PERFORMANCE, AND RUGGEDNESS.