CANTILEVERED PROBE DETECTOR WITH PIEZOELECTRIC ELEMENT

摘要

A disclosed chemical detection system for detecting a target material, such as an explosive material, can include a cantilevered probe, a probe heater coupled to the cantilevered probe, and a piezoelectric element disposed on the cantilevered probe. The piezoelectric element can be configured as a detector and/or an actuator. Detection can include, for example, detecting a movement of the cantilevered probe or a property of the cantilevered probe. The movement or a change in the property of the cantilevered probe can occur, for example, by adsorption of the target material, desorption of the target material, reaction of the target material and/or phase change of the target material. Examples of detectable movements and properties include temperature shifts, impedance shifts, and resonant frequency shifts of the cantilevered probe. The overall chemical detection system can be incorporated, for example, into a handheld explosive material detection system.

主权项

1. A method for analyzing one or more chemical species samples, the method comprising:
exposing a sensor probe in a chemical analysis system to one or more chemical species samples, the sensor probe comprising an integral resistive heater, a temperature sensing element, and a surface for contacting the one or more chemical species samples; heating the sensor probe to cause a change with the one or more chemical species samples; analyzing responses received from the sensor probe after interaction of the sensor probe with the heated one or more chemical species samples; detecting, identifying, and/or characterizing the one or more chemical species samples based on analyzing the responses from the sensor probe.