Abstract: A non-destructive method for chemical imaging with ˜1 nm to 10 ?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.

Abstract: A non-destructive method for chemical imaging with ˜1 nm to 10 ?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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: In the invention, a collection device includes a first micro scale plate having a sorbent surface and a through hole. The through hole provides for the passage of an analyte fluid flow through the plate and it has a volume and geometry to provide contact between the fluid and the sorbent surface in an amount effective to absorb a sufficient amount of analyte for subsequent detection of the analyte. The sorbent surface can be provided by a sorbent coating such as an active sensing film, e.g. a conducting or optically active material, examples of which include conducting polymers, polymer/carbon composites, carbon nanotubes. and dye-containing materials. The analyte collection device preferably includes a heating source, e.g. a heating element formed from a resistive trace, or a plurality of resistive traces on or within the first microscale plate, for effecting a thermal release of collected analyte from the plate.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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: (1) a polymer backbone portion that is at least partly randomly branched; (2) at least one pendant group extending from the polymer backbone portion; and (3) at least one halogen substituted alcohol or phenol group substituted at the pendant group(s) of the polymer backbone portion. The compound of the invention preferably has the general formula: wherein A is the hyperbranched backbone portion of the polymer; L and M are independently selected pendant groups of said polymer backbone; X and Y are independently selected halogen substituted alcohol or phenol groups; q and r are independently selected and at least 1; and n is at least 3.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to a new class of chemoselective polymer materials. In particular, the invention relates to linear and branched polysiloxane compounds for use in various analytical applications involving sorbent polymer materials, including chromatography, chemical trapping, analyte collection, and chemical sensor applications.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to a new class of chemoselective polymer materials. In particular, the invention relates to linear and branched polysiloxane compounds for use in various analytical applications involving sorbent polymer materials, including chromatography, chemical trapping, analyte collection, and chemical sensor applications.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for interrogating a resonator to monitor its resonance characteristics (e.g. resonant frequency) in an especially energy efficient manner, particularly changes to the characteristics over time. The resonator is pulsed and the response thereto sampled. By comparison of samples of the response to sequential pulses, sampled at the same times after pulse initiation, one can infer phase changes between the responses, and hence infer changes in resonance characteristics. Preferably, one calibrates the resonator's time response initially as a reference, which permits subsequent determination of the resonance state with only one digital sample per pulse. In one embodiment, the invention this detection scheme is used as a chemical detector. The resonator is an electo-acoustic device, having plural Bragg gratings, with a different adsorptive material atop each grating which adsorbs one selected chemical particularly well.

Abstract: A water vapor insensitive and corrosion resistant chemical or biochemical sensor device, including a transducer, coated with a protective coating of diamond or a diamond-like carbon, preferably by a pulsed laser deposition technique. The surface of the protective coating is coated with a chemoselective or bioselective absorption material or film.

Abstract: A film of a coating material is produced on a substrate by a pulsed laser deposition method in which the material that forms the coating material is first combined with a matrix material to form a target. The target is then exposed to a source of laser energy to desorb the matrix material from the target and lift the coating material from the surface of the target. The target and the substrate are oriented with respect to each other so that the lifted coating material is deposited as a film upon said substrate. The matrix material is selected to have the property of being more volatile than the coating material and less likely than the coating material to adhere to the substrate. The matrix material is further selected as having the property such that when the target is exposed to a source of laser energy, the matrix material desorbs from the target and lifts the coating material from the surface of the target.

Abstract: A water vapor insensitive and corrosion resistant chemical or biochemical nsor device, including a transducer, coated with a protective coating of diamond or a diamond-like carbon, preferably by a pulsed laser deposition technique. The surface of the protective coating is coated with a chemoselective or bioselective absorption material or film.