Development of Remote Sensor Microsystems for Environmental Monitoring

Wayne State University, Detroit MI

Investigators

Abstract

One of the most important fields of application for sensor systems is sensing environmental pollutants- particularly the detection of chemical and bacterial contamination of drinking and recreation waters. Sensing systems can provide continuous monitoring of chemical and bioanalytes. In phase I of this research we will develop a new type of chemical and biosensor system which provides a class of economical and portable devices that can detect desired analytes sensitively and rapidly. The intrinsic selectivity of this microsensor chip arises from the specific nature of bio-recognition reactions, e.g., antibody-antigen reations. The sensitivity depends upon the coupling between the recognition reaction and the transducer and upon the inherent sensitivity of the transducer. We will develop ultra high sensitivity wide bandgap semiconductor based shear acoustic wave structures as the common sensor platform for the integration with the sensing medium. The device will be developed using new Excimer laser micromachining technology and state-of-the-art immobilization chemistry. The proposed research will be a systematic multi-disciplinary research and development project involving novel materials development, new processing and integration technology and a synergy with our educational program. The goal of the research is to develop an E. Coli and a pesticide detecting prototype sensor system that can be adapted to a large array of microsensors, for the detection of a multitude of contaminate sources, during phase II of the project.