Fiber-Based Chemical Sensing and Sensing Platforms With Colorimetric Dyes

摘要

Chemical warfare agents (CWAs) such as nerve and blister agents are expected to pose continuing and growing dangers for the Warfighter in the future. We investigate a novel chemical detection modality, based on a new platform for colorimetric detection of chemical threats incorporated in hollow fibers, which are miniature in two dimensions and extendable ("extrudable") in the third dimension (along the fiber length). By exploring fibers, and films that can be scaled to a fiber geometry, we will enable a new fiber-based chemical threat detector that can serve in textiles worn by the Warfighter (e.g., uniform), as well as in non-worn textiles and an outlying fence or perimeter for early detection of a threat cloud near an expeditionary shelter, outpost, encampment, or base.