Color-change sensor using film for detecting harmful material

• US 9,581,551 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2015
• Issued: 02/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SungKyunKwan University's Research & Business Foundation (SungKyunKwan University)
• Original Assignee: SungKyunKwan University's Research & Business Foundation (SungKyunKwan University)
• Inventors: An, Jeong Ho, Chung, Dong Jun
• Primary Examiner(s): Wecker, Jennifer
• Application Number:
  US14/814,663
• Publication Number:
  US 20160033419A1
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/28 Devices for testing the effectiveness or completeness of sterilisation, e.g. indicators which change colour apparatus involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M1/34; methods involving enzymes or microorganisms C12Q1/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5023 with a sample being transported to, and subsequently stored in an absorbent for analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/757 using immobilised reagents
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/29 using visual detection G01N21/31 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/77 by observing the effect on a chemical indicator
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/78 producing a change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/783 for analysing gases
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 31/22 using chemical indicators G01N31/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 31/223 for investigating presence of specific gases or aerosols G01N31/221, G01N31/222 take precedence; actuation of fire alarm by presence of smoke or gases G08B17/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 31/224 for investigating presence of dangerous gases
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0044 for H2S, sulfides
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/52 Use of compounds or compositions for colorimetric, spectrophotometric or fluorometric investigation, e.g. use of reagent paper and including single- and multilayer analytical elements immunological elements G01N33/54386; involving labelled immunochemicals G01N33/58; for haemoglobin or occult blood G01N33/72
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/521 Single-layer analytical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/523 the element being adapted for a specific analyte
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/525 Multi-layer analytical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/526 the element being adapted for a specific analyte

Abstract

The following description relates to a composite for a harmful material-detecting sensor, which includes a dye having a color-change function by reaction with acid or base and a polymer material, a method for producing the composite for the harmful material-detecting sensor, and a low-cost film-type color change harmful material sensor, which includes the composite for the harmful material-detecting sensor so as to quickly detect a harmful material and can be carried by an individual.

Claims

1. A composite film for a harmful material-detecting sensor, comprising:

a polymer matrix comprising a dye dispersed in a water-soluble polymer,

wherein the polymer matrix is permeable to the harmful material, and

wherein the polymer matrix is configured to be resistant to dissolution in water by a wet-annealing process, which thereby induces an increase in a crystallinity of the film.

2. The composite film of claim 1, wherein the water-soluble polymer includes poly(vinylalcohol) or poly(vinylbutyral).

3. The composite film of claim 1, wherein the dye reacts with the harmful material to exhibit its color change.

4. The composite film of claim 3, wherein the harmful material includes a member selected from the group consisting of ammonia (NH₃), hydrochloric acid (HCl), hydrofluoric acid (HF), formaldehyde (HCHO), chlorine (Cl₂), hydrogen sulfide, dimethyl amine, diethyl amine, triethyl amine, methyl amine, sulfur dioxide, nitric acid, and combinations thereof.

5. The composite film of claim 1, wherein the film is crystallized.

6. The composite film claim 1, wherein the film includes a single film layer or multiple film layers.

9. A harmful material-detecting sensor, comprising the composite film for the harmful material-detecting sensor according to claim 1.

10. The harmful material-detecting sensor of claim 9, wherein, upon reaction with the harmful material a color of the dye changes, and

wherein a presence of the harmful material is detected based on the color change of the dye.

11. The composite film of claim 1, wherein the polymer matrix is resistant to dissolution in water for at least 1 minute.

7. A method for producing a composite for a harmful material-detecting sensor, comprising:

adding a dye to a water-soluble polymer solution to obtain an aqueous solution of the water-soluble polymer and the dye;

applying the aqueous solution of the water-soluble polymer and the dye onto a substrate to form a composite film; and

annealing the composite film as a post-treatment in order to enhance a crystallinity of the film and render the film resistant to dissolution in water.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising carrying out a dry-annealing or a wet-annealing process of the composite film.