A document discusses gold-on-polymer as one of the novel sensor types developed for part of the sensor development task. Standard polymer- carbon composite sensors used in the JPL Electronic Nose (ENose) have been modified by evaporating 15 nm of metallic gold on the surface. These sensors have been shown to respond to alcohols, aromatics, ammonia, sulfur dioxide, and elemental mercury in the parts-per-million and parts-per-billion concentration ranges in humidified air.
The results have shown good sensitivity of these films operating under mild conditions (operating temperatures 23–28 ºC and regeneration temperature up to 40 ºC). This unique sensor combines the diversity of polymer sensors for chemical sensing with their response to a wide variety of analytes with the specificity of a gold sensor that shows strong reaction/binding with selected analyte types, such as mercury or sulfur.
This work was done by Kenneth Manatt of Santa Barbara Research and Margie Homer, Margaret Ryan, Adam Kisor, Abhijit Shevade, April Jewell, and Hanying Zhou of Caltech for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
In accordance with Public Law 96-517, the contractor has elected to retain title to this invention. Inquiries concerning rights for its commercial use should be addressed to:
Innovative Technology Assets Management
JPL
Mail Stop 202-233
4800 Oak Grove Drive
Pasadena, CA 91109-8099
E-mail:
Refer to NPO-44997, volume and number of this NASA Tech Briefs issue, and the page number.
This Brief includes a Technical Support Package (TSP).
Gold-on-Polymer-Based Sensing Films for Detection of Organic and Inorganic Analytes in the Air
(reference NPO-44997) is currently available for download from the TSP library.
Don't have an account?
Overview
The document discusses the development of novel gold-on-polymer sensors by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) for detecting organic and inorganic analytes in the air. These sensors combine the sensing capabilities of polymer-carbon composites with the specificity of gold films, allowing for the detection of a wide range of target analytes, including organic solvents (like alcohols and aromatics), ammonia, sulfur dioxide, and elemental mercury (Hg) at parts per million (ppm) and parts per billion (ppb) levels.
The sensors are designed to operate at room temperature (23-28 °C) and can be regenerated under mild conditions (below 40 °C), making them practical for various applications, including air quality monitoring in space and terrestrial environments. The document highlights the unique features of these sensors, noting that they have shown good sensitivity and reproducibility in detecting the specified analytes in humidified air.
The research emphasizes the importance of developing diverse sensing materials to provide redundancy in the existing JPL Electronic Nose platform. The integration of these gold-on-polymer sensors into the Third Generation Electronic Nose project aims to enhance the capabilities of this technology for environmental monitoring.
Figures included in the document illustrate the sensor responses to different analytes, showcasing their effectiveness in real-time detection. The results indicate that the sensors can accurately measure concentrations of ethanol, toluene, and mercury, demonstrating their potential for practical applications in both aerospace and other industries.
The document also references several studies and publications that support the development and testing of these sensors, indicating a robust research background. Overall, the gold-on-polymer sensors represent a significant advancement in sensor technology, with the potential to improve air quality monitoring and detection of hazardous substances in various environments. The ongoing research and development efforts at JPL aim to further refine these sensors and expand their applications, contributing to advancements in environmental science and technology.
