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Applications of deep UV LEDs to chemical and biological sensing.

Conference ·
OSTI ID:968939

An AlGaN Light-emitting diode (LED) emitting with a peak wavelength at 291 nm and a radiant power of 0.5 mW {at} 100 mA was fabricated on a sapphire substrate. A compact gated fluorescence detection system was built using this LED as the excitation light source. We demonstrate that it provides sufficient power using Terbium enhanced fluorescence to detect subnanomolar concentrations of dipicolinic acid (DPA, 2, 6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid), a substance uniquely present in bacterial spores such as that from B. anthracis, providing a basis for convenient early warning detectors. We also describe initial results from a novel approach for biological aerosol detection using long lived fluorescence from a Europium tagged dye that binds to proteins.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Laboratories
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-94AL85000
OSTI ID:
968939
Report Number(s):
SAND2005-4033C
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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