DESCRIPTION:

This invention is in providing a new scheme and materials in chemical sensing with enhanced sensitivity.  The advantages are the following:

• The invention employs low cost materials and reliable properties.

• The material has extreme high sensitivity to certain chemicals, especially in gaseous and vapor forms.

• The material can be used in embedded form or in individual device to perform desired chemical sensing.

• The materials can be produced in mass quantities and made cheap enough that the sensors are disposable.

• The material is light weight and ultra thin in volume, thus the sensor heads can be made in miniaturized forms, without loss of functional reliably and sensitivity.

ADVANTAGES:

• Surface sensitive at atomic scale allowing ultrasensitive characterization and measurement of corrosion and chemical reaction.

• Easy integration with microelectronic circuits and communication board to make compact and remote all-electronic sensing unit.

• Easy fabrication to be made into self supporting chip or as embedded active component in structure materials.

• Reliable measurement of corrosion rate and high selectivity in identifying chemical reaction and agents.

• Ultra short electronic response time (nanoseconds) to provide rapid diagnosis and realtime monitoring of multiple sensing matrix.

• Simple sample structure and low manufacturing costs with compatible fabrication methods with the existing electronic technology.

• Possible incorporation of multifunctionality in sensing and decision making systems.

PATENT STATUS:

Patent Pending (U.S. Patent Application # 11/462,034,  Filing Date: 8/2/2006)