Devices For Detecting Airborne Contaminants, And Associated Methods

• US 20150079697A1
• Filed: 11/26/2014
• Published: 03/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Trustees of Dartmounth College (Dartmouth College)
• Original Assignee: The Trustees of Dartmounth College (Dartmouth College)
• Inventors: Belbruno, Joseph J., Tanski, Susanne E.
• Granted Patent: US 10,451,598 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 436/501
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/126 comprising organic polymers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0027 concerning the detector
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0073 Control unit therefor

Abstract

A device for detecting an airborne contaminant includes (a) a reactive polymer film having affinity for binding with the airborne contaminant, (b) an electrically conductive polymer film in contact with the reactive polymer film and having electrical property sensitive to binding of the airborne contaminant to the reactive polymer film, and (c) two electrodes in electrical contact with the electrically conductive polymer film for measuring the electrical property to detect the binding of the airborne contaminant to the reactive polymer film. Another device for detecting an airborne contaminant includes (a) a polymer film molecularly imprinted with the airborne contaminant, and (b) color reporting molecules having color sensitive to binding of the airborne contaminant to the polymer film. A method for manufacturing a device for detecting an airborne contaminant includes depositing, using one or more inkjet print heads, a polymer film and at least two electrodes onto a substrate.

Claims

1. Device for detecting an airborne contaminant, comprising:

a reactive polymer film having affinity for binding with the airborne contaminant;

an electrically conductive polymer film in contact with the reactive polymer film and having electrical property sensitive to binding of the airborne contaminant to the reactive polymer film; and

two electrodes in electrical contact with the electrically conductive polymer film for measuring the electrical property to detect the binding of the airborne contaminant to the reactive polymer film.

2. The device of claim 1, the reactive polymer film being imprinted with the airborne contaminant.

3. The device of claim 1, the two electrodes being interdigitated.

4. The device of claim 1, at least a portion of the reactive polymer film having thickness such that the airborne contaminant, when bound to the at least a portion of the reactive polymer film, is within sufficient proximity of the electrically conductive polymer film to effect a chemical reaction that changes the electrical property.

5. The device of claim 4,

the electrically conductive polymer film being protonated;

and

the chemical reaction including transfer of a proton from the electrically conductive polymer directly to the airborne contaminant.

6. The device of claim 4,

the electrically conductive polymer film being protonated;

the reactive polymer film including an additive with affinity for reacting with the airborne contaminant to produce a reaction product; and

the chemical reaction including transfer of a proton from the electrically conductive polymer directly to the reaction product.

7. The device of claim 4, the at least a portion of the reactive polymer film having thickness less than 200 nanometers.

8. The device of claim 1, the airborne contaminant being selected from the group consisting of carbon monoxide, nicotine, 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and combinations thereof.

9. The device of claim 1, the electrically conductive polymer film comprising one or more of:

a π

electron-conjugated polymer;

polyalinine;

polypyrrole;

polythiophene;

a derivative of polyalinine, polypyrrole, or polythiophene;

a copolymer of polyalinine, polypyrrole, polythiophene;

or a derivative thereof.

10. Device for detecting an airborne contaminant, comprising:

a polymer film molecularly imprinted with the airborne contaminant; and

color reporting molecules having color sensitive to binding of the airborne contaminant to the polymer film.

11. The device of claim 10, the color reporting molecules embedded within the polymer film.

12. The device of claim 10, the color reporting molecules disposed on a surface of the polymer film.

13. The device of claim 10, the color reporting molecules changing color upon direct reaction with the airborne contaminant.

14. The device of claim 10, the polymer film comprising an additive with affinity for reacting with the airborne contaminant to produce a reaction product capable of changing the color of the color reporting molecules.

15. The device of claim 10, further comprising an opening for providing visual access to the color reporting molecules from outside the device.

16. The device of claim 10, further comprising a colorimeter for generating an electrical signal indicative of color of the color reporting molecules.

17. The device of claim 10, the airborne contaminant being selected from the group consisting of carbon monoxide, nicotine, 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and combinations thereof.

18. Method for manufacturing a device for detecting an airborne contaminant, comprising:

depositing, using one or more inkjet print heads, onto a substrate;

a polymer film having affinity for binding with the airborne contaminant and having electrical property sensitive to binding of the airborne contaminant to the polymer film, and

at least two electrodes for measuring the electrical property to detect the binding of the airborne contaminant to the polymer film.

19. The method of claim 18, the step of depositing the polymer film comprising:

depositing an electrically conductive polymer film having the electrical property; and

depositing a reactive polymer film, having affinity for binding with the airborne contaminant, onto the electrically conductive polymer film.

20. The method of claim 18, the step of depositing the at least two electrodes comprising depositing two interdigitated electrodes.

21. The method of claim 20, the step of depositing two interdigitated electrodes comprising depositing the two interdigitated electrodes with spacing between at least a portion of each of the two interdigitated electrodes being less than fifty microns.

22. The method of claim 18 comprising:

depositing a first pair of electrodes onto the substrate; and

depositing the polymer film onto the first pair of electrodes.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising depositing a second pair of electrodes onto the polymer film, one of the first and the second pair of electrodes capable of passing a current through the polymer film, and another one of the first and the second pair of electrodes capable of cooperating with electronic circuitry to measure a voltage difference induced by the current.

24. The method of claim 18, the substrate being a plastic substrate.