USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Other

University of Louisville Research Foundation, Inc

Robert Andrew McGill

Eric J Houser

Viet K Nguyen

Douglas B Chrisey

Russell Chung

Robert Furstenberg

Chris Kendziora

Stanley Vincent Stepnowski

Paul Christopher Dorsey

Gary Keith Fedder

Kevin M Walsh

Graham K Hubler

James S Horwitz

Michael Papantonakis

Michael J Martin

Mark Crain

Jennifer L Stepnowski

Nabil D Bassim

Todd Mlsna

Ioana Voiculescu

Stephen C Francesconi

Ronald L Kelly

A non-destructive method for chemical imaging with &#x2dc;1 nm to 10 &#x3bc;m spatial resolution (depending on the type of heat source) without sample preparation and in a non-contact manner. In one embodiment, a sample undergoes photo-thermal heating using an IR laser and the resulting increase in thermal emissions is measured with either an IR detector or a laser probe having a visible laser reflected from the sample. In another embodiment, the infrared laser is replaced with a focused electron or ion source while the thermal emission is collected in the same manner as with the infrared heating. The achievable spatial resolution of this embodiment is in the 1-50 nm range.

Chemical mapping using thermal microscopy at the micro and nano scales

The present invention is directed to a method for non-contact or stand off chemical detection by selectively exciting one or more analytes of interest using an IR source tuned to at least one specific absorption band without significantly decomposing the analyte and determining if the analyte is present by comparing emitted photons with an IR detector signal made before and during or shortly after exciting the analyte. Another embodiment provides a method for non-contact or stand off chemical detection by selectively exciting one or more analytes of interest using an IR source tuned to at least one specific absorption band without significantly decomposing the analyte, wherein the analyte is excited sufficiently to generate a vapor plume, and wherein the plume is examined to detect the presence of the analyte. Additionally, the present invention provides for a system for non-contact or stand off chemical detection.

Detection of chemicals with infrared light

In the invention, a collection device includes a flow through micro scale plate arranged to collect analyte. The plate includes holes, and sorbent coating on contact surfaces of the plate. The holes pass analyte fluid flow, for example analyte vapor so that fluid flow for collection may be generally perpendicular to the sorbent plate. Preferred embodiment plates include an integrated heater trace. In preferred embodiments, a high substantially perpendicular flow is used for collection and concentration, and during desorption and delivery a low substantially parallel flow is used. The low flow is selected to meet constraints of a detector system.

Micro scale flow through sorbent plate collection device

This invention relates generally to a new class of chemoselective polymer materials primarily designed to sorb hydrogen bond basic analytes such as organophosphonate esters (nerve agents and precursors) and nitro-substituted compounds (explosives). In particular, the invention relates to linear polycarbosilane compounds for use in various analytical applications involving sorbent polymer materials, including chromatography, chemical trapping, analyte collection, and chemical sensor applications. These polymers have pendant and terminal aryl, alkyl, alkenyl, and alkynyl groups that are functionalized with halogen substituted alcohol or phenol groups, having the general structure: 

Carbosilane polymers and methods for use in analytical and purification applications

A support stand includes a base and a mounting post that is collapsible into the base. The support stand can be extremely compact and nearly flat with a very small height. The support stand also is very easy to use and can be quickly set up and utilized with a camera or other device to be mounted thereon.

Collapsible support stand for devices, such as cameras

A microelectro-mechanical chemical sensor includes an active cantilever beam having a chemically selective material layer disposed thereon and at least one, preferably two, resistors with the resistance corresponding to the cantilever beam deflection. The sensor also has at least two, and preferably four, auxiliary cantilever beams adjacent to the active cantilever and attached to the same substrate, each having a piezoresistor disposed thereon. The piezoresistors are elements of a Wheatstone bridge, and the Wheatstone bridge output indicates the amount of a predetermined target chemical sorbed by the chemically selective material layer. The sensor is electrostatically actuated in order to monitor the resonant frequency.

Microelectro-mechanical chemical sensor

This invention relates generally to a new class of chemoselective polymer materials. In particular, the invention relates to linear polycarbosilane compounds for use in various analytical applications involving sorbent polymer materials, including chromatoghraphy, chemical trapping, analyte collection, and chemical sensor applications. These polymers have pendant and terminal aryl, alkyl, alkenyl, and alkynyl groups that are functionalized with halogen substituted alcohol or phenol groups, having the general structure: 

Linear chemoselective carbosilane polymers and methods for use in analytical and purification applications

The invention provides a device for selective molecular recognition, the device comprising a sensing portion, wherein said sensing portion includes a substrate having coated thereon a layer comprising a hyperbranched compound having: The compound of the invention preferably has the general formula: wherein A is the hyperbranched backbone portion of the polymer;

Hyperbranched chemoselective silicon-based polymers for chemical sensor applications

An apparatus for collecting particles or vapor from air or surfaces comprising: a housing comprising an inlet open to the air to be sampled and an outlet; and a fan having one or more open areas within the housing capable of being driven at a speed effective to cause collection on the surface of the fan of particles or vapor in the air. A method of collecting a particulate sample from air comprising the step of driving a fan having one or more open areas within a housing comprising an inlet open to the air to be sampled and an outlet, at a speed effective to cause collection on the surface of the fan of particles in the air.

Miniature particle and vapor collector

The invention provides a device for selective molecular recognition, the device comprising a sensing portion, wherein said sensing portion includes a substrate having coated thereon a layer comprising a non-volatile, small molecule compound having at least two pendant and terminal unsaturated groups, each being functionalized with at least one halogen substituted alcohol or phenol functional group. The compound of the invention preferably has one of the following general formulae: wherein A is a core moiety; B is a pendant and terminal unsaturated group; q is at least 1; r is at least 2; X is a linking group; and n is an integer designating the number of repeating units from 1 to 3, with the proviso that, if n is greater than 1, then the B groups differ from each other in at least two of the repeating units. The device is used to detect the molecules of a hydrogen bond accepting vapor such as an organophosphonate or nitroaromatic vapor.

Functionalized small molecules for use in chemical sensors

The invention provides a device for selective molecular recognition, the device comprising a sensing portion, wherein said sensing portion includes a substrate having coated thereon a layer comprising a hyperbranched compound having: wherein A is the hyperbranched backbone portion of the polymer;

Apparatus and method for detecting presence of an analyte in ambient air. The apparatus comprising a valve for admitting ambient air, a line for conveying the air to a sensing element, a housing for isolating the environment around the sensing element, an inlet port for flowing the air tho the sensing element in a turbulent flow in a direction substantially perpendicularly to the sensing element, an outlet port for conveying the air from the sensing element, and a pump in communication with the outlet port for providing suction for drawing the air to the sensing element. The method includes the steps of drawing in ambient air that may contain an analyte, projecting the air at a sensing element in a turbulent flow by flowing the air at the sensing element, the sensing element having on its surface a chemoselective material that selectively interacts with the analyte, and detecting the interaction of the analyte with the sensing element.

Growing community of inventors

Lorton, VA, United States of America

Robert Andrew McGill