Matrix Sensors, Inc.

Other

University of California

Wickramaratne, M. Dayan J.

Rao, Jianyu

Ragavendra, Nagesh

Sharma, Shivani

Wilkinson, Paul R.

Gimzewski, James K.

Paul R Wilkinson

James K Gimzewski

Steven Yamamoto

David K Britt

Heinrich Sussner

Jianyu Rao

Nagesh Ragavendra

M Dayan J Wickramaratne

Shivani Sharma

A method is provided for coating a surface of a material with a film of porous coordination polymer. A first substrate having a first surface to be coated is positioned in a processing chamber such that the first surface is placed in an opposing relationship to a second surface. The second surface may be provided by a wall of the processing chamber, or in some cases the second surface may be provided by a second substrate to be coated. The first substrate is held such that a gap exists between the first and second surfaces, and the gap is filled with at least one reaction mixture comprising reagents sufficient to form the crystalline film on at least the first surface. A thin gap (e.g., less than 2 mm) between the first and second surfaces is effective for producing a high quality film having a thickness less than 100 μm. Confining the volume of the reaction mixture to a thin layer adjacent the substrate surface significantly reduces problems with sedimentation and concentration control. The size, shape, or average thickness of the gap may be adjusted during formation of the film in response to feedback from at least one film growth monitor.

Method for producing a crystalline film

An apparatus and method is provided for coating a surface of a material with a film of porous coordination polymer. A first substrate having a first surface to be coated is positioned in a processing chamber such that the first surface is placed in a substantially opposing relationship to a second surface. In some embodiments, the second surface is provided by a wall of the processing chamber, and in other embodiments the second surface is provided by a second substrate to be coated. The first substrate is held such that a gap exists between the first and second surfaces, and the gap is filled with at least one reaction mixture comprising reagents sufficient to form the crystalline film on at least the first surface. A thin gap (e.g., having a thickness less than 2 mm) between the first and second surfaces is effective for producing a high quality film having a thickness less than 100 μm. Confining the volume of the reaction mixture to a thin layer adjacent the substrate surface significantly reduces problems with sedimentation and concentration control. In some embodiments, the size, shape, or average thickness of the gap is adjusted during formation of the film in response to feedback from at least one film growth monitor.

Method for producing a crystalline film on a substrate surface

A sensor device comprises at least one transducer and a sensing material disposed on the transducer. The sensing material adsorbs or absorbs an amount of analyte (e.g., a target gas) that depends on a temperature of the sensing material and a concentration of the analyte. At least one detector is arranged to measure responses of the transducer to sorption or desorption of the analyte in the sensing material while the sensing material is heated and/or cooled according to at least one temperature profile. The device also comprises a humidity sensor that is arranged to detect a humidity level of the environment or sample containing the analyte. A processor or controller is programmed to determine the quantity (e.g., concentration) of the analyte by comparing values of the transducer measurement signals to reference data indicative of expected or pre-measured responses of the transducer to known concentrations of the analyte at the same humidity level as indicated by the humidity sensor while the sensing material is subjected to the same or similar temperature profile.

Self-calibrating analyte sensor

An apparatus and method is provided for coating a surface of a material with a film of porous coordination polymer. A first substrate having a first surface to be coated is positioned in a processing chamber such that the first surface is placed in a substantially opposing relationship to a second surface. In some embodiments, the second surface is provided by a wall of the processing chamber, and in other embodiments the second surface is provided by a second substrate to be coated. The first substrate is held such that a gap exists between the first and second surfaces, and the gap is filled with at least one reaction mixture comprising reagents sufficient to form the crystalline film on at least the first surface. A thin gap (e.g., having a thickness less than 2 mm) between the first and second surfaces is effective for producing a high quality film having a thickness less than 100 &#x3bc;m. Confining the volume of the reaction mixture to a thin layer adjacent the substrate surface significantly reduces problems with sedimentation and concentration control. In some embodiments, the size, shape, or average thickness of the gap is adjusted during formation of the film in response to feedback from at least one film growth monitor.

Apparatus and method for producing a crystalline film on a substrate surface

A gas sensor comprises at least one transducer and a sensing material (e.g., a metal-organic framework) disposed on the transducer. The sensing material has a temperature-dependent gas sorption behavior. A detector is arranged to detect responses of the transducer to sorption and/or desorption of a target gas in the sensing material and to output transducer measurement signals indicative of the transducer responses. At least one thermal element changes the temperature of the sensing material by heating and/or cooling, and at least one temperature sensor (which may be integral with the thermal element) is arranged to measure a temperature of the sensing material. At least one processor determines the quantity (e.g., concentration, partial pressure, or mass) of the target gas according to the temperature of the sensing material at which the transducer measurement signals satisfy a signal value condition.

Gas sensor incorporating a temperature-controlled sensing material

A device and method are provided for detecting analyte with correction for the effects of humidity. The device comprises a resonant sensor having an oscillating portion. A capacitor is positioned on the oscillating portion. The capacitor is formed by at least two electrodes and a sensing material positioned between the electrodes. A readout circuit is arranged to measure a response of the oscillating portion (e.g., frequency shift or change in resonance frequency, stiffness or strain) and a capacitance of the capacitor when substances are adsorbed or absorbed in the sensing material. This combination of measurements enables the device to distinguish between various types of adsorbed or absorbed molecules, especially distinguishing between an analyte of interest and water molecules that might interfere with the detection of the analyte. A processor determines an analyte value indicative of the presence, amount or concentration of the analyte in dependence upon measurements of both the response of the oscillating portion and the capacitance to account for the effects of water in the sensing material.

Gas sensor with humidity correction

A sensor array comprises resonant sensors and porous receptor materials arranged on the resonant sensors to absorb or adsorb one or more analytes. The average pore size of the porous receptor materials on the sensors increases systematically from one sensor to the next in the array. At least one detector is arranged to detect responses of the resonant sensors when the array is exposed to a sample potentially containing one or more of the analytes. In some embodiments, a processor is programmed to determine from the sensor responses the presence, amount or relative concentration of target molecules in the sample.

Array of resonant sensors utilizing porous receptor materials with varying pore sizes

An array of resonant sensors self-corrects measured values for the effects of environmental conditions, such as operating temperature, pressure or humidity. The resonant sensors have varied frequency responses to N environmental parameters and M chemical parameters. Each of the sensors has a different, non-zero frequency response to at least two of the parameters. The device also comprises at least one detector for detecting frequency responses of the resonant sensors. Individual parameter values are determined for each of the N environmental parameters and M chemical parameters according to the detected frequency responses and a system of equations using calibration terms that relate the frequency responses to the individual parameter values.

Self-correcting chemical sensor

A liquid storage tank for providing a liquid under pressure in such a way that pressurized air will not be absorbed by the liquid is disclosed. According to one embodiment of this invention, the pressurized storage tank of this invention having side walls and an end wall uses a plunger or a plate having a seal which is biased to move within the tank as water or liquid is forced into the tank or withdrawn from the tank. According to this embodiment, springs may be positioned in different arrangements and used to provide the bias that maintains the water or liquid under pressure. Still other embodiments use mass or weight while still others use power actuated means or air pressure for providing the necessary bias. In other embodiments of the invention, the tank may include a seal and/or a collapsable liner to prevent any of the liquid from passing the plunger or piston. The addition of a collapsable liner is especially useful if the liquid to be maintained under pressure is corrosive.

Growing community of inventors

El Segundo, CA, United States of America

Paul R Wilkinson