ChemBadge – ER: A Person Worn Chemical Aerosol Detector

Chemical agents, including conventional warfare agents (CWAs) and evolving Non-Traditional Agents (NTAs), continue to pose a security threat. Pharmaceutical Based Agents (PBAs) are of growing concern - these chemicals can be procured or produced by non-State actors. This class includes fentanyls and analogues, as they are highly lethal through inhalation or contact with mucous membranes. These low-volatility threats can be readily disseminated by unskilled individuals as liquid or dry aerosols and are not detectable with currently fielded chemical detectors. N5 proposes to develop ChemBadgER, a person-worn sensing device capable of multi-threat detection of liquid and dry aerosols. Phase I will establish the applicability of N5’s Semiconductor Photocatalytic Hybrid (SPH) sensors for detecting NTAs and PBAs; will assess the state of the art in micro-scale aerosol sampling; and will develop an initial projection of key performance parameters. The patented SPH sensor array technology has been shown to detect environmental gases, toxic chemicals, and CWAs, so precedent exists for the detection of multiple chemical classes. The development and integration of a micro-scale aerosol sampler will enable the efficient collection of these low-volatility chemicals. This approach combines innovations in sensor technology, aerosol science, advanced integrated circuit design, and algorithms to deliver a solution responsive to the solicitation requirements. ChemBadgER will be low-cost, based on semiconductor manufacturing methods, and therefore widely distributed for use by emergency responders, homeland defense, and law enforcement personnel. The size, weight, and power will enable deployment on unattended aerial and ground vehicles for surveillance and reconnaissance.