Abstract: Disclosed herein are engineered composite materials suitable for applications that can benefit from a composite material capable of interacting with or responding to, in a controlled or predetermined manner, changes in its surrounding environment. The composite material is generally comprised of a gradient layer structure of a sequence of at least three gradient-contributing layers of microscale particles, wherein a mean particle size of particles of neighboring gradient-contributing layers in the cross section of the gradient layer structure varies from layer to layer, thereby forming a particle size gradient, and in contact with the gradient layer structure, a densely packed particle structure including densely packed microscale particles, wherein a mean particle size of the densely packed microscale particles does not form a particle size gradient in the cross section of the densely packed particle structure.

Abstract: An acetone sensor including a substrate, a pair of interdigitated electrodes disposed on the substrate, and a sensing film disposed on the pair of interdigitated electrodes and having electrical conductivity that depends upon a concentration of acetone. A method for detecting acetone includes for each sensor of a plurality of sensors: generating a signal if said sensor is exposed to a sample of acetone having density greater than or equal to an acetone detection threshold of said sensor, wherein the plurality of sensors has a respective plurality of acetone detection limits that span a detection range. A method for forming an acetone sensor includes dissolving a co-polymer and suspending conductive nanoparticles in an organic solvent to form a sensing solution, and coating the solution to form a conductive sensing film disposed on a pair of interdigitated electrodes disposed on a substrate.

Abstract: A sensor for sensing diols and triols includes a substrate, a conductive coating, and two electrodes. The conductive coating is disposed on the substrate and has affinity for binding with a substance selected from the group consisting of diols, triols, and a combination thereof. The conductive coating includes PEDOT:PSS and a humectant, which together constitute at least 95 weight percent of the conductive coating. The two electrodes are in contact with the conductive coating to probe conductivity of the conductive coating so as to detect the substance from a reduction of the conductive coating's conductivity.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are engineered composite materials suitable for applications that can benefit from a composite material capable of interacting with or responding to, in a controlled or pre-determined manner, changes in its surrounding environment, such as to attenuate a compression wave. The composite material generally includes a plurality of repeating units, with each repeating unit including a first layer of particles having a first mean diameter, and a second layer of particles having a second mean diameter, and an intermediary material that allows mobility of and contact between the first particles within the first layer and mobility of and contact between the second particles within the second layer; the contact allowing momentum transfer between the particles. The first mean diameter and second mean diameter are different and are less than 500 nm.

Abstract: A sensor for sensing diols and triols includes (a) a substrate, (b) a conductive coating disposed on the substrate and having affinity for binding with a substance selected from the group consisting of diols, triols, and a combination thereof, and (c) two electrodes in contact with the conductive coating to probe conductivity of the conductive coating so as to detect the substance from a reduction in the conductivity. A method for detecting vaping includes (a) measuring conductivity of a conductive coating having affinity for binding with an airborne substance selected from the group consisting of diols, triols, and a combination thereof, and (b) detecting presence of the airborne substance as a decrease in the conductivity.

Abstract: Systems and methods for the detection of one or more target molecules, such as benzene, are described. The systems and methods may include a molecularly imprinted polymer film; a sensing material, wherein the molecularly imprinted polymer film comprises a polymer host with one or more binding sites for one or more target molecules. The molecularly imprinted polymer film may be coated upon the sensing material.

Abstract: An adsorbent composition for capturing pollutants includes a porous composition that includes a plurality of ferric oxyhydroxide particles and an additional component in the porous composition. The additional component includes one of copper chloride (CuCl2), zinc chloride (ZnCl2), polyvinylpolypyrrolidone, silicon carbide, silicon dioxide, activated carbon or other carbonaceous material, and a combination thereof.

Abstract: Systems and methods for the detection of one or more target molecules, such as benzene, are described. The systems and methods may include a molecularly imprinted polymer film; a sensing material, wherein the molecularly imprinted polymer film comprises a polymer host with one or more binding sites for one or more target molecules. The molecularly imprinted polymer film may be coated upon the sensing material.

Abstract: A device for detecting airborne contaminants includes a protonated, electrically conductive sensing material with affinity for binding with, and capable of being deprotonated by, the airborne contaminant. Electronics measure a property of the sensing material that is sensitive to deprotonation and generates signals indicative of the airborne contaminant. A method for detecting airborne contaminants includes: determining a property change of the protonated, electrically conductive material; and determining presence of the airborne contaminant based on the change.

Abstract: Systems and methods monitor a space for environmental pollutants. A sensing device senses and reports air quality anomalies to a cloud detection service. The cloud detection service uses artificial intelligence to analyze raw sensor data from the sensing device, determines whether the raw sensor data indicates an air quality event, and sends an air quality report indicative of the air quality event to a client device associated with the sensing device and/or the monitored space. A sensing device may be deployed in an air extraction vent to detect and report indications of vaping in prohibited spaces. A sensing device may be deployed in a vehicle to detect and report smoking in vehicles where smoking is prohibited. An application running on a mobile device reports detection of a short-range wireless beacon within a serviceable space to a cloud detection service, which tracks servicing of the serviceable space.

Abstract: A device for detecting airborne contaminants includes a protonated, electrically conductive sensing material with affinity for binding with, and capable of being deprotonated by, the airborne contaminant. Electronics measure a property of the sensing material that is sensitive to deprotonation and generates signals indicative of the airborne contaminant. A method for detecting airborne contaminants includes: determining a property change of the protonated, electrically conductive material; and determining presence of the airborne contaminant based on the change.

Abstract: A hydrogen sulfide sensor includes a substrate, a par of interdigitated electrodes disposed on the substrate, and a homogeneous polyaniline sensing film disposed on the pair of interdigitated electrodes and having electrical conductivity that depends upon a concentration of hydrogen sulfide. A method for detecting hydrogen sulfide includes for each sensor of a plurality of sensors: generating a signal if said sensor is exposed to a sample of hydrogen sulfide having density greater than or equal to a hydrogen sulfide detection threshold of said sensor, wherein the plurality of sensors has a respective plurality of hydrogen sulfide detection limits that span a detection range. A method for forming a hydrogen sulfide sensor includes dissolving a polyaniline polymer and a metal-chloride salt in an organic solvent to form a solution, and spin-coating the solution to form a homogeneous sensing film disposed on a pair of interdigitated electrodes disposed on a substrate.

Abstract: A device for detecting cotinine includes (a) a film that includes a plurality of molecularly-imprinted-polymer (MIP) coated conductive nanoparticles having specific affinity for binding with cotinine, and (b) two electrodes in contact with the film for passing electrical current through the film to detect binding with cotinine as a change in electrical conductivity of the film. A MIP coated conductive nanoparticle for detecting cotinine includes (a) a conductive nanoparticle, (b) a silicon dioxide coating formed on the conductive nanoparticle and forming a first shell around the conductive nanoparticle, and (c) an MIP coating formed on the silicon dioxide coating and forming the second shell, wherein the MIP coating includes a polymer molecularly imprinted with cotinine to provide specific affinity for binding of cotinine to the MW coated conductive nanoparticle such that the cotinine is detectable as a change in electrical conductivity of the MW coated conductive nanoparticle.

Abstract: A device for detecting airborne contaminants includes a protonated, electrically conductive sensing material with affinity for binding with, and capable of being deprotonated by, the airborne contaminant. Electronics measure a property of the sensing material that is sensitive to deprotonation and generates signals indicative of the airborne contaminant. A method for detecting airborne contaminants includes: determining a property change of the protonated, electrically conductive material; and determining presence of the airborne contaminant based on the change.

Abstract: A device for detecting cotinine includes (a) a film that includes a plurality of molecularly-imprinted-polymer (MIP) coated conductive nanoparticles having specific affinity for binding with cotinine, and (b) two electrodes in contact with the film for passing electrical current through the film to detect binding with cotinine as a change in electrical conductivity of the film. A MIP coated conductive nanoparticle for detecting cotinine includes (a) a conductive nanoparticle, (b) a silicon dioxide coating formed on the conductive nanoparticle and forming a first shell around the conductive nanoparticle, and (c) an MIP coating formed on the silicon dioxide coating and forming the second shell, wherein the MIP coating includes a polymer molecularly imprinted with cotinine to provide specific affinity for binding of cotinine to the MIP coated conductive nanoparticle such that the cotinine is detectable as a change in electrical conductivity of the MIP coated conductive nanoparticle.

Abstract: A shock wave attenuating material (100) includes a substrate layer (104). A plurality (110) of shock attenuating layers is disposed on the substrate layer (104). Each of the plurality (110) of shock attenuating layers includes a gradient nanoparticle layer (114) including a plurality of nanoparticles (120) of different diameters that are arranged in a gradient from smallest diameter to largest diameter and a graphitic layer (118) disposed adjacent to the gradient nanoparticle layer. The graphitic layer (118) includes a plurality of carbon allotrope members (128) suspended in a matrix (124).

Abstract: Disclosed herein are engineered composite materials suitable for applications that can benefit from a composite material capable of interacting with or responding to, in a controlled or pre-determined manner, changes in its surrounding environment. The composite material is generally includes a gradient layer structure of a sequence of at, e.g., three or more gradient-contributing layers of microscale particles, wherein a mean particle size of particles of neighboring gradient-contributing layers in the cross section of the gradient layer structure varies from layer to layer, thereby forming a particle size gradient, and in contact with the gradient layer structure, a densely packed particle structure including densely packed microscale particles, wherein a mean particle size of the densely packed microscale particles does not form a particle size gradient in the cross section of the densely packed particle structure.

Abstract: A shock wave attenuating material (100) includes a substrate layer (104). A plurality (110) of shock attenuating layers is disposed on the substrate layer (104). Each of the plurality (110) of shock attenuating layers includes a gradient nanoparticle layer (114) including a plurality of nanoparticles (120) of different diameters that are arranged in a gradient from smallest diameter to largest diameter and a graphitic layer (118) disposed adjacent to the gradient nanoparticle layer. The graphitic layer (118) includes a plurality of carbon allotrope members (128) suspended in a matrix (124).

Abstract: A molecularly imprinted polymer sensor for sensing a target molecule includes (a) a porous polymer film that is molecularly imprinted with a homolog of the target molecule and includes a conductive polymer having resistance sensitive to binding with the target molecule and a structural polymer providing porosity to the polymer film, and (b) interdigitated electrodes, located on a surface of the polymer film, for measuring a change in the resistance to sense said binding.

Abstract: Systems and methods for the detection of one or more target molecules, such as benzene, are described. The systems and methods may include a molecularly imprinted polymer film; a sensing material, wherein the molecularly imprinted polymer film comprises a polymer host with one or more binding sites for one or more target molecules. The molecularly imprinted polymer film may be coated upon the sensing material.