Small-footprint mass spectrometry based chemical sensors for urban monitoring

Mass spectrometers, the gold standard for chemical analysis with wide ranging applications (e.g., detection and identification of environmental pollutants, toxic industrial chemicals, chemical and biological weapons, illicit drugs, explosives, and more), are unfortunately limited in deployment by their high cost, size, weight, and power. Current portable instruments are ~$100k, the size of a small suitcase, and operate for only a few hours on a single charge. We have invented a patented ion trap geometry with key benefits over existing designs, including the ability to be microfabricated. This innovation will enable compact, low-cost, widely deployable mass spectrometry-based chemical analyzers for autonomous, in situ sensing and monitoring. The first-generation device in development promises significant application in traditional markets (Safety & Security and Environmental) and provides a proof-of-concept for a second-generation chip-scale cartridge. This device will revolutionize its market by tremendously reducing the cost barrier to entry. This Phase I represents a critical development of the ionization and sampling sub- system to target applications in varied environments. Improving these ionization and sampling subsystems is a key step towards deploying the instruments to be used remote, autonomous, in situ sensor arrays for large area continuous urban monitoring using Ĺlaboratory-gradeĺ high specificity chemical identification. The device has no moving parts, and ought to be as robust as e.g. a temperature or humidity sensor in an urban weather station. In this 9-month Phase I project we will investigate the use a novel electron source for ionization that promises to dramatically reduce the power draw of the instruments, as well as investigate so- called atmospheric pressure ionization, which will greatly expand the breadth of samples that can be analyzed by our instruments. We will also identify and work with government partners and potential customers to develop the product specifications, features, and price points necessary to ensure our instruments can solve their most important problems.