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Capacitive chemical sensor

Patent ·
OSTI ID:1132610

A microfabricated capacitive chemical sensor can be used as an autonomous chemical sensor or as an analyte-sensitive chemical preconcentrator in a larger microanalytical system. The capacitive chemical sensor detects changes in sensing film dielectric properties, such as the dielectric constant, conductivity, or dimensionality. These changes result from the interaction of a target analyte with the sensing film. This capability provides a low-power, self-heating chemical sensor suitable for remote and unattended sensing applications. The capacitive chemical sensor also enables a smart, analyte-sensitive chemical preconcentrator. After sorption of the sample by the sensing film, the film can be rapidly heated to release the sample for further analysis. Therefore, the capacitive chemical sensor can optimize the sample collection time prior to release to enable the rapid and accurate analysis of analytes by a microanalytical system.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-94AL85000
Assignee:
Sandia Corporation (Albuquerque, NM)
Patent Number(s):
8,736,000
Application Number:
11/583,442
OSTI ID:
1132610
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (4)

Gas-phase selective etching of native oxide journal January 1990
Nanoporous-carbon films for microsensor preconcentrators journal May 2002
Etching of thin SiO 2 layers using wet HF gas
  • van der Heide, P. A. M.; Baan Hofman, M. J.; Ronde, H. J.
  • Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology A: Vacuum, Surfaces, and Films, Vol. 7, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1116/1.576033
journal May 1989
Mechanisms of the HF/H 2 O vapor phase etching of SiO 2 journal July 1992

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