University of Utah Research Foundation

The Penn State Research Foundation

Vaporsens Inc

Ling Zang

Yanke Che

Benjamin R Bunes

Paul Slattum

Douglas H Werner

Micah D Gregory

Jimin Han

Xu Miao

Douglas Later

Chen Wang

Leonard Cardillo

Daniel Jacobs

Ronald Jenkins

Na Wu

Benjamin Ross Bunes

Douglas Wayne Later

Jayc Johnson

Miao Xu

A system for low power chemical sensing can include a voltage shift unit which receives a voltage signal from a chemical sensor unit. The voltage signal can be determined by a concentration of an analyte. The voltage shift unit can transform the voltage signal to an input voltage signal, and send the input voltage signal to a plurality of frequency selective surface (FSS) units of an FSS array. The FSS array can communicate a radio frequency (RF) signal in an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) S band with a resonant frequency based on the input voltage to provide the concentration of the analyte.

Quantitative chemical sensors with radio frequency communication

Methods of detecting a non-explosive analyte can include exposing a sensor compound to a non-explosive analyte and displaying a change in the sensor compound upon exposure of the sensor compound to the non-explosive analyte. A variety of sensor compounds for detecting a target analyte, including both explosive and non-explosive analytes, is also described. Sensor devices for detecting a target analyte can include a substrate and a sensor compound positioned on the substrate in a plurality of detection zones.

Sensor compounds and associated methods and devices

A chemiresistive vapor sensor compound for detecting target vapors can comprise a perylene-tetracarboxylic diimide (PTCDI) core according to structure (I): where R can be a morphology control group or -A'-D&#x2032;, A and A&#x2032; can be independently a linking group, D and D&#x2032; can be independently a strong electron donor which transfers electrons to the PTCDI core sufficient to form an anionic PTCDI radical of the PTCDI core, and R1 to R8 can be independently a side group. A chemiresistive vapor sensor for detection of a target compound can comprise an assembly of nanofibers formed of the chemiresistive sensor compound and a pair of electrodes operatively oriented about the assembly of nanofibers to allow electrical current to pass from a first electrode in the pair of electrodes through the assembly of nanofibers and to a second electrode in the pair of electrodes.

Chemical self-doping of one-dimensional organic nanomaterials for high conductivity application in chemiresistive sensing gas or vapor

A nanofiber composite sensor for detecting alkanes can include a network of contacting nanofibers having multiple contact points. Each contact point can form an interfiber interface of interdigitated alkyl chains. Alkanes can be adsorbed at the interfiber interface which results in an increased interfiber distance between first and second nanofibers and a decreased charge transfer efficiency. The detected alkanes can be in a vapor or liquid phase.

Interfacial nanofibril composite for selective alkane vapor detection

A method for thermally induced recrystallization of a film having a perovskite structure can include exposing the perovskite structure to a liquid phase induction atmosphere sufficient to at least partially liquefy the film. The substrate with the film can be heated while in the atmosphere to a heating temperature above a critical recrystallization temperature until the film recrystallizes to reform the perovskite structure with reduced defects and increased grain size. The liquid phase induction atmosphere can be purged, and the substrate with the film having the reformed perovskite structure can be allowed to cool. The film having the perovskite structure can have a formula ABX, (RA)ABX, or (RA)ABX, where A is a monovalent cation, B is divalent metal cation, n is an integer, X is a halide ion, RA is an alkylammonium cation and RAis an alkyldiammonium cation.

Methods of thermally induced recrystallization

A chemical sensing field effect transistor device is disclosed. The device can include a control gate structure interfacing a control side of a semiconductor channel region, a source region, and a drain region. The control gate structure can comprise a control gate dielectric and a control gate electrode. The device can include a sensing gate structure interfacing the semiconductor channel region, the source region, and the drain region at a sensing side of the semiconductor channel region opposite the control gate structure. The sensing gate structure can comprise a sensing gate dielectric, and a sensing gate electrode. The device can include a functional layer interfacing the sensing gate electrode opposite the sensing gate dielectric. The functional layer can have an exposed interface surface. The functional layer can be capable of binding with a target analyte material sufficient to create a measurable change in conductivity across the semiconductor channel region.

Dual-gate chemical field effect transistor sensor

A sensory material with high sensitivity, selectivity, and photostability has been developed for vapor probing of organic amines. The sensory material is a perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxyl compound having amine binding groups and the following formula 

Nanofibril materials for highly sensitive and selective sensing of amines

The present disclosure provides methods and compositions for an organic nanofiber-based heterojunction material, comprising nano fibers of an acceptor molecule, the nano fibers coated with a donor molecule, where the acceptor molecule contains a group and the donor molecule contains a companion group, wherein the group and companion group enables strong binding between the acceptor molecule and donor molecule, the strong binding providing for efficient forward electron transfer between the acceptor molecule and donor molecule, and wherein the group and companion group minimize charge carrier recombination between the acceptor molecule and the donor molecule.

Nanofiber-based heterojunction approach for high photoconductivity on organic materials

Methods, compositions, and systems for detecting gamma radiation is disclosed and described. A compound for detecting gamma radiation can comprise a conjugated imidazole having the following structure: [Formula I] where at least one of R1, R2, and R3 are conjugated organic groups. Additionally, the conjugated imidazole can be capable of reacting with a radical or ion formed by the reaction of gamma radiation with a radical generating component such as a halogen solvent to decrease a molar extinction coefficient of the conjugated imidazole in the visible light region or to quench fluorescence of the conjugated imidazole. As a sensor (), a radiation detection indicator () can indicate the change in molar extinction coefficient or fluorescence of the conjugated imidazole material () upon exposure to gamma radiation. 

Compounds, sensors, methods, and systems for detecting gamma radiation

A photoconductive sensor compound for detecting explosives can have a structure I: 

Photoconductive sensor materials for detection of explosive vapor

A fluorescence based sensor () is disclosed and described. The sensor () can include nanofibril materials () fabricated from a linear carbazole oligomer and a fluorescence detector (). The linear carbazole oligomer can have the formula (I) wherein n is 3 to 9, R are independently selected amine sidegroups, and at least one, but not all, R is a C1 to C14 alkyl. The carbazole-based fluorescence based sensors () can be particularly suitable for detection of explosives and volatile nitro compounds. 

Fluorescent carbazole oligomers nanofibril materials for vapor sensing

A coaxial molecular stack () for transferring photocurrent generation in a device such as a solar cell () is disclosed. The device comprises a plurality of macrocyclic &#x3c0;-conjugated planar molecules stackable through columnar self assembly to form a stack () having an axial channel () with an outer p-channel () of the nano-composite coaxial molecular stack (). A plurality of C60 molecules are positioned coaxially within the axial channel of the stack () to form an inner n-channel () that forms a bulk heterojunction with the p-channel () to provide charge transport of photocurrent through the nano-composite coaxial molecular stack (). A plurality of the stacks () are oriented orthogonally between first () and second electrodes () to form the device ().

Parallel coaxial molecular stack arrays

A chemical sensor can include a nanofiber mass of p-type nanofibers having a HOMO level greater than &#x2212;5.0 eV. Additionally, the chemical sensor can include oxygen in contact with the p-type nanofibers. Further, the chemical sensor can include a pair of electrodes in electrical contact across the nanofiber mass, where the p-type nanofibers conduct an electric current that decreases upon contact with an amine compound.

Optoelectrical vapor sensing

A fluorescence sensory material with high sensitivity, selectivity, and photostability has been developed for vapor probing of organic amines. The sensory material is a perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxyl compound having amine binding groups and the following formula 

Growing community of inventors

Salt Lake City, UT, United States of America

Ling Zang