CHEMFET (Chemically Sensitive Field-Effect Transistor) Chemical Warfare Agent Detector.

Abstract

In detector technology, one item whose feasibility as a cockpit chemical warfare agent detector has been demonstrated is the chemically sensitive field-effect transistor (CHEMFET). The overall objective of the present effort was: to test and evaluate CHEMFET semiconducting polymer gate electrode material; and to design, build and optimize a breadboard detector by using selected material. A membrane consisting of a poly (vinyl pyrrolidone), poly (vinyl alcohol), and copper (II) bipyridine mix (the selected material) was cast over copper/copper (bipyridyl) electrodes for form a cell, the resistance of which was shown to change on exposure to organophosphonates and other vapors. These resistance changes, however, originated at the metal-polymer contact and were not due to change in bulk resistivity. Since this membrane could not then be used as a gas-sensitive layer in a CHEMFET structure (as had originally been hoped), the direction of the research was changed. Because of the extreme sensitivity of impedance measurements, made as a function of diisopropyl methylphosphonate (DIMP) and other organophosphorous vapor concentrations, an effort has been planned and is progressing towards building a dedicated battery-operated low-frequency bridge to measure the impedance of the organophosphonate sensitive resistance cell.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1983
Accession Number
ADA139636

Entities

People

  • D. Gehmlich
  • J. Janata

Organizations

  • University of Utah

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Alcohols
  • Alternating Current
  • Chemical Agent Detectors
  • Chemical Warfare
  • Chemical Warfare Agents
  • Detection
  • Detectors
  • Direct Current
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Field Effect Transistors
  • Films
  • Impedance
  • Materials
  • Measurement
  • Membranes
  • Vinyl Alcohol
  • Warfare

Fields of Study

  • Materials science

Readers

  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Electronics Engineering
  • Systems Analysis and Design