Low Cost High-rate Manufacturing of Flexible Explosive Detection Sensor Navy STTR FY2010.A Sol No.: Navy STTR FY2010.A Topic No.: N10A-T031 Topic Title: Low Cost High-rate Manufacturing of Flexible Explosive Detection Sensor Proposal No.: N10A-031-0434 Firm: Nanotrons, Co 12A Cabot Road Woburn, Massachusetts 01801-1003 Contact: Je Lee Phone: (781) 935-1200 Web Site: www.nanotrons.com Abstract: Nanotrons Corporation, in collaboration with Professor Byungki Kim at NSF Nanomanufacturing Research Center at the University of Massachusetts Lowell (UML), proposes to develop the low-cost high-rate manufacturing technique for flexible explosive detection sensors to significantly increase sensitivity of detection of trinitrotoluene (TNT) explosives. The new approach combines cutting-edge nanomaterial development and manufacture at Nanotrons with the extensive experience in sensors and detector and nanomanufacturing within the UML team. By dispersing chemically converted graphene into interdigitated electrode arrays, novel explosive-material detection sensors will be fabricated. The resulting sensors can detect very low concentrations of vapor components of TNT such as nitrogen oxides (NO2) and 2,4,-dinitrotoluene (DNT) indicating their ideal application for threat detection (i.e., suicide bomb, roadside bomb, and landmines) sensors. Nanotrons' proposed sensors can be economically manufactured on flexible polymeric substrates by using large-scale and low-cost roll-to-roll production processes. The production of these sensors also can be monitored and controlled in real time using integrated in-line quality assurance system. Additionally, since these sensors can detect chemical warfare agents (i.e., HCN, CEES, DMMP) and ammonia gas (NH3), their application can be extended to many military and commercial gas detection applications. This Phase I will demonstrate the feasibility of our proposed approach. Benefits: Success in the proposed Phase I program will demonstrate the feasibility of flexible explosive detection sensors for the use in military threat detection. By simply attaching these flexible sensors into military automobile, building structure, and personal mobile devices, they can detect suicide bomber, road side bomb, and landmines to protect our military personnel and civilians against the attack of enemy and terrorist. This flexible senor system also can be used as commercial chemical sensors detecting hazard and refrigerate gas in a variety commercial applications ranging from domestic gas alarms and medical diagnostic apparatus to safety, environmental, and chemical plant instrumentation. Return