Abstract: A vapor sensor comprises a housing with an inlet opening in fluid communication with a sensor element within the housing. Standoff member(s) are positioned to maintain a gap between the inlet opening and a skin site. An operating circuit is in electrical communication with the sensor element and communicatively coupled to an output member. In use, the output member generates a sensory output indicative to an operator regarding concentration of alcoholic vapor in the ambient atmosphere proximate the skin site upon receiving communication from the operating circuit.

Abstract: A composite particle that includes: a fluorescent semiconductor core/shell nanoparticle (preferably, nanocrystal); and a stabilizing additive of the formula

Abstract: A composite particle that includes: a fluorescent semiconductor core/shell nanoparticle (preferably, nanocrystal); and a stabilizing additive of the formula (I).

Abstract: Optically clear curable adhesive films that are heat conformable prior to setting include a reactive composition. The curable films are flexible and free-standing, and have a complex viscosity of greater than 100,000 poise (10,000 Pascal seconds) at 25° C. and less than 100 poise (10 Pascal seconds) at 85° C., prior to setting. The set film has an adhesive shear strength of greater than 100 Newtons per square centimeter (N/cm2) to a glass substrate when measured according to the Shear Adhesion Test Method. The reactive composition includes an ethylenically unsaturated polyester-containing oligomeric composition that is the reaction product of a saturated, amorphous co-polyester polyol and a compound with a terminal polyol-reactive group and a terminal ethylenically unsaturated group, a (meth)acrylate functional material, and at least one initiator.

Abstract: A protective film includes a base layer and a wear layer, the wear layer comprising a UV cured hardcoat resin, and the UV cured hardcoat resin comprising surface modified silica nanoparticles. The protective film may comprise a pressure sensitive adhesive for adhesion to a floor. The protective film may be used, for example, as a protective floor finish.

Abstract: A portable device includes an outer housing including an inlet port and a outer slot adapted to receive a vapor sensor card; an operating circuit disposed at least partially within the outer housing; a sensor holder at least partially disposed within the outer housing. The sensor holder includes: an inner housing including a gas intake chamber in downstream fluid communication with the inlet port. The gas intake chamber has a gas outlet in fluid communication with an inner slot retaining a sensor card socket for engaging the vapor sensor card. The sensor holder further comprises an electrical heater element, a fan, and a turbulent-flow-inducing member. The vapor sensor card comprises a sensor housing and a capacitive sensor element.

Abstract: A method for identifying and quantitatively analyzing an unknown organic compound in a gaseous medium. More specifically, the method provides a gas sensor array (120a, 120b, 120c, 120d) coupled to a diluting channeling gas inlet (105) with a honeycomb configuration. Each sensor (120a, 120b, 120c, 120d) in the array receives the test gas after successive dilutions. Detected gas are identified by correlating the responses of each sensor with its associated dilution.

Abstract: A humidity sensor element includes a dielectric substrate, a nonporous conductive electrode disposed on the dielectric substrate, a permeable conductive electrode having a thickness in a range of from 4 to 10 nanometers and permeable by water vapor, and a detection layer sandwiched between the nonporous conductive electrode and the permeable conductive electrode. The permeable conductive electrode is parallel to the nonporous electrode. Both conductive electrodes have respective conductive leads attached thereto. The detection layer includes a copolymer having monomeric units comprising wherein M represents H, or an alkali metal. A humidity sensor including the humidity sensor element is also disclosed.

Abstract: An electronic indicator includes artificial soil and sensor. An electrical characteristic of the electronic indicator can vary due to a change in the volume of the artificial soil. In some embodiments, the electrical characteristic of the electronic indicator can be measured by an electrical characteristic reader and used to determine efficacy of a cleaning cycle.

Abstract: A humidity sensor element includes a dielectric substrate, a nonporous conductive electrode disposed on the dielectric substrate, a permeable conductive electrode having a thickness in a range of from 4 to 10 nanometers and permeable by water vapor, and a detection layer disposed between the nonporous conductive electrode and the permeable conductive electrode. Both conductive electrodes have respective conductive leads attached thereto. The detection layer includes a sulfonated copolymer including monomeric units comprising (I) and (II), Wherein x and y are independently integers in the range of from 2 to 6, and wherein each M independently represents H or an alkali metal. A humidity sensor including the humidity sensor element is also disclosed.

Abstract: A vapor sensor comprises a sensor element (110), a cooling member (140), and an operating circuit (160). The sensor element comprises: a first conductive electrode; a second conductive electrode; and a dielectric microporous material at least partially disposed between and contacting the first and second conductive electrodes. The cooling member is in contact with, and configured to cool, the sensor element. The operating circuit is in electrical communication with the first and second conductive electrodes, and is capable of creating a voltage difference between the first and second conductive electrodes such that the sensor element has a capacitance-related property, and monitoring a capacitance-related property of the sensor element. A method of using the vapor sensor to detect an analyte vapor is also disclosed.

Abstract: A flexible sensor patch includes a flexible base having outer and inner surfaces and a periphery, an adhesive layer disposed on at least a portion of the outer surface, a flexible porous cover secured to the flexible base along at least major portion of the periphery. The flexible porous cover and the flexible base collectively enclose at least a major portion of a sensor. The sensor comprises a capacitive sensor element. The capacitive sensor element comprises first and second conductive electrodes and a dielectric microporous material disposed therebetween. Methods of using the flexible sensor patch are also disclosed.

Abstract: A vapor sensor includes a capacitance-related property sensor element (110), a heater circuit element (170), a capacitance-related property measurement circuit element (180), and at least one switch member (190). The capacitance-related property sensor element includes a dielectric substrate (120), a first conductive electrode (130), a second conductive electrode (140), and a layer of dielectric microporous material (150) disposed between and contacting the first conductive electrode and the second conductive electrode. The at least one switch member is capable of interrupting electrical communication between the first conductive electrode and the heater circuit element, and between the capacitance-related property measurement circuit element and the first conductive electrode.

Abstract: A method of using a sensor element includes: exposing a sensor element to an unknown analyte vapor; measuring a capacitance of the sensor element to obtain a measured capacitance; obtaining a true capacitance of the sensor element; exposing the semi-reflective conductive electrode to incident light and observing reflected light in order to measure a spectral change between the incident light and the reflected light; comparing the true capacitance and the measured spectral change, or at least one derivative thereof, to a reference library, the reference library comprising reference correlations between spectral change and true capacitance, or at least one derivative thereof, for a plurality of reference analyte vapors; and determining at least one of the chemical class or identity of the analyte vapor.

Abstract: A vapor sensor comprises a housing with an inlet opening in fluid communication a sensor element within the housing. Standoff member(s) are positioned to maintain a gap between the inlet opening and a skin site. An operating circuit is in electrical communication with the sensor element and communicatively coupled to and output member. In use, the output member generates a sensory output indicative to an operator regarding concentration of alcoholic vapor in the ambient atmosphere proximate the skin site upon receiving communication from the operating circuit.

Abstract: A sensor element (100) includes a first conductive electrode (120) having a first conductive member (122) electrically coupled thereto; an absorptive dielectric layer (130) comprising a polymer of intrinsic microporosity; and a second conductive electrode (140) having a second conductive member (142) electrically coupled thereto. The second conductive electrode comprises carbon nanotubes and is permeable to at least one organic vapor. The absorptive dielectric layer is at least partially disposed between the first conductive electrode and the second conductive electrode. A method of making the sensor element, and sensor device (200) containing it, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of using an absorptive sensor element includes: providing the absorptive sensor element, heating the absorptive sensor element to a temperature in a range of from 30° C. to 100° C., exposing the absorptive sensor element to an analyte vapor, and measuring a capacitance-related property of the absorptive sensor element and/or a spectral feature upon reflection of incident light. The absorptive sensor element comprises: a substrate, a first member disposed on the substrate, a second member, and a detection layer comprising a polymer of intrinsic microporosity disposed between and contacting the first member and the second member.

Abstract: An electronic indicator includes artificial soil and sensor. An electrical characteristic of the electronic indicator can vary due to a change in the volume of the artificial soil. In some embodiments, the electrical characteristic of the electronic indicator can be measured by an electrical characteristic reader and used to determine efficacy of a cleaning cycle.

Abstract: A portable device includes an outer housing including an inlet port and a outer slot adapted to receive a vapor sensor card; an operating circuit disposed at least partially within the outer housing; a sensor holder at least partially disposed within the outer housing. The sensor holder includes: an inner housing including a gas intake chamber in downstream fluid communication with the inlet port. The gas intake chamber has a gas outlet in fluid communication with an inner slot retaining a sensor card socket for engaging the vapor sensor card. The sensor holder further comprises an electrical heater element, a fan, and a turbulent-flow-inducing member. The vapor sensor card comprises a sensor housing and a capacitive sensor element.

Abstract: A sensor element includes first and second conductive electrodes that include interconnected carbon fibers. At least one or the first or second conductive electrodes is porous. The electrodes are separated by a porous dielectric detection layer including a sorbent material. Methods of making a sensor element and analyzing an analyte vapor are also disclosed.