Enhancing Sensitivity by Integrating a Custom Front End Electronics with Nanosensor Printed using 3D Printing Technique, Year 1

This project has two main objectives. The first objective is to take advantage of 3D printing techniques (developed by Professor Busnaina at Northeastern University) to print patterns of nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes, graphene, and molybdenum disulfide to fabricate a suite of sensors with different nanomaterials and metal leads directly on a daughter board that can be wire bonded to a Printed Circuit Board (PCB). These sensors will then be tested with target gases. The second objective is to develop the Front End Electronics (FEE) to read out the sensors. Using the sensor response to target gases, the PI and team can then initiate development of algorithms for technology demonstration. This CIF will leverage previous internal research efforts, complete the FEE development, incorporate a plug-and- play interface for the nanosensors, and characterize them with gases (ammonia and hydrogen). Innovative aspects include the fabrication of nanosensors with 3D printing, and custom plug-and-play FEE and DSP techniques.

Improved sensors which can detect minute concentrations of gases and vapors in the ppb level are a key technology required for future Planetary Science, Heliophysics and Human Exploration missions. Current mass spectrometers have difficulty reaching the needed sensitivity, and are also rather large and require significant power. Nanosensors printed by an innovative "off-set printing" or "3D" technique, developed by Northeastern University, offer a tempting alternative. This CIF will continue development of such 3D printed nanosensors for in situ chemical sensing, and also develop the front end electronics for read out. The end product will be a prototype instrument for gas sensing. The small size, low power and high sensitivity of these sensors make them a game changing technology that can be used for a variety of space applications.

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.

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