Coin-Sized Sensor Can Detect Bombs

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Coin-Sized Sensor Can Detect Bombs
May 30, 2008
Air Force Print News|by Maria Callier

ARLINGTON, Va. - An Air Force Office of Scientific Research-funded team has created an inexpensive sensor the size of a penny that detects bombs made with improvised peroxide explosive devices.

The University of California at San Diego research team includes Dr. William Trogler, one of the inventors of the electronic device, and Drs. Andrew Kummel and Ivan Schuller. Together, they created the small sensors using ultra thin films. The sensors are made of cobalt and copper and have a fast response time and sensitivity that enables them to detect even minute amounts of peroxide vapors. When peroxide is present, the film made of cobalt shows a reduction in current while the copper films show an increase.

"The main, long-term goal of our basic research program is to develop the science and technology to create rugged, lower power, small-sensor packages with high chemical properties that are practical for military purposes and in homeland security," Dr. Trogler said.

He noted that low power micro and nanosensors are ideally suited for small unmanned air vehicles, or UAV, platforms. UAVs and micro UAVs can use the technology in remote sensing for protecting facilities from chemical warfare agents when investigating chemical properties of a vapor cloud.

Dr. Trogler emphasized that the team's chief challenge is to extend the array sensing approach to broader applications.


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