Enhancing Sensitivity by Integrating A Custom Front End Electronics with Nanosensors Printed Using 3D Manufacturing Techniques, Year 2

The innovative aspects of this concept include the use of a novel offset printing technique that allows 3-D printing of different materials, including low dimensional materials such as graphene, carbon nanotube, and molybdenum disulfide. Device structures as small as tens of nanometer resolution can be printed directly on a single daughterboard. This process significantly simplifies the tedious fabrication process of nanosensors. It also eliminates the integration and packaging challenges associated fabricating individual sensors and then integrating them. In addition, the printing process is automated and can be used to address reproducibility and repeatability challenges typically faced with nanosensors. Key goals are to characterize the sensor performance using ammonia, hydrogen and methane, and complete data analysis and modeling by the end of the fiscal year.

This technology will allow much smaller sensors for detecting specific gases in planetary atmospheres, thus saving mass and perhaps enabling new scientific approaches.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 3) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.