Abstract:
A gas sensor comprises at least one transducer and a sensing material (e.g., a metal-organic framework) disposed on the transducer. The sensing material has a temperature-dependent gas sorption behavior. A detector is arranged to detect responses of the transducer to sorption and/or desorption of a target gas in the sensing material and to output transducer measurement signals indicative of the transducer responses. At least one thermal element changes the temperature of the sensing material by heating and/or cooling, and at least one temperature sensor (which may be integral with the thermal element) is arranged to measure a temperature of the sensing material. At least one processor determines the quantity (e.g., concentration, partial pressure, or mass) of the target gas according to the temperature of the sensing material at which the transducer measurement signals satisfy a signal value condition.
Abstract:
An apparatus and method is provided for coating a surface of a material with at least one film of porous coordination polymer. A body (e.g., a flow cell) has an interior space for holding the material to be coated, at least one inlet, and at least one outlet in communication with the interior space to permit fluid to flow in a downstream direction from the inlet, across the surface of the material in the interior space, and through the outlet. A plurality of flow channels are arranged to flow a plurality of different reagent solutions from respective supply sources to the at least one inlet. The flow channels merge into at least one mixing region, positioned upstream of the interior space, to mix the solutions prior to the mixture contacting the surface of the material in the interior space. At least one pressure source and valve system are arranged with the supply sources and the flow channels to select at least one combination of the reagent solutions to be mixed and to force the selected reagent solutions to flow from their respective supply sources, through the flow channels, and into the mixing region at independently controllable flow rates to regulate respective concentrations of reagents in the mixture.
Abstract:
Surface modifications to sensors in an array give the sensors different functionalities for adsorbing or binding molecules. A first sensor in the array includes a first resonating member having a first surface comprising a receptor material coated over a first underlying material. A second sensor includes a second resonating member having a second surface comprising the receptor material coated over a second underlying material that is different than the first underlying material. The first underlying material, the second underlying material, and the receptor material are selected such that the first resonating member, having a combination of the receptor material and the first underlying material, has a different ability to adsorb or bind a mass of one or more analytes than does the second resonating member having a combination of the receptor material with the second underlying material. Methods for fabricating sensors with surface modifications are also provided.
Abstract:
Surface modifications to sensors in an array give the sensors different functionalities for adsorbing or binding molecules. A first sensor in the array includes a first resonating member having a first surface comprising a polymer receptor material coated over a first underlying material. A second sensor includes a second resonating member having a second surface comprising the polymer receptor material coated over a second underlying material that is different than the first underlying material. The first underlying material, the second underlying material, and the polymer receptor material are selected such that the first resonating member, having a combination of the polymer receptor material and the first underlying material, has a different ability to adsorb or bind a mass of one or more analytes than does the second resonating member having a combination of the polymer receptor material with the second underlying material. Methods for fabricating sensors with surface modifications are also provided.
Abstract:
A lighting device comprises an emission layer, and first and second electrodes between which a voltage can be applied to generate an electric field in at least part of the emission layer. The emission layer comprises a luminescent film composed of at least one crystal comprising repeating structural units of a crystalline framework material. The crystal has at least one crystallographic axis that is aligned substantially parallel to a planar surface of the luminescent film with a maximum deviation of up to +/−35° from this parallel orientation. Luminescent emitters are arranged in at least 30% of the repeating structural units of the crystalline framework material such that the transition dipole moments of the luminescent emitters are configured in a substantially parallel orientation relative to the crystallographic axis with a maximum deviation of up to +/−350 from this parallel orientation.
Abstract:
An apparatus and method is provided for coating a surface of a material with a film of porous coordination polymer. A first substrate having a first surface to be coated is positioned in a processing chamber such that the first surface is placed in a substantially opposing relationship to a second surface. In some embodiments, the second surface is provided by a wall of the processing chamber, and in other embodiments the second surface is provided by a second substrate to be coated. The first substrate is held such that a gap exists between the first and second surfaces, and the gap is filled with at least one reaction mixture comprising reagents sufficient to form the crystalline film on at least the first surface. A thin gap (e.g., having a thickness less than 2 mm) between the first and second surfaces is effective for producing a high quality film having a thickness less than 100 μm. Confining the volume of the reaction mixture to a thin layer adjacent the substrate surface significantly reduces problems with sedimentation and concentration control. In some embodiments, the size, shape, or average thickness of the gap is adjusted during formation of the film in response to feedback from at least one film growth monitor.
Abstract:
A sensor device comprises at least one transducer and a sensing material disposed on the transducer. The sensing material adsorbs or absorbs an amount of analyte (e.g., a target gas) that depends on a temperature of the sensing material and a concentration of the analyte. At least one detector is arranged to measure responses of the transducer to sorption or desorption of the analyte in the sensing material while the sensing material is heated and/or cooled according to at least one temperature profile. The device also comprises a humidity sensor that is arranged to detect a humidity level of the environment or sample containing the analyte. A processor or controller is programmed to determine the quantity (e.g., concentration) of the analyte by comparing values of the transducer measurement signals to reference data indicative of expected or pre-measured responses of the transducer to known concentrations of the analyte at the same humidity level as indicated by the humidity sensor while the sensing material is subjected to the same or similar temperature profile.
Abstract:
A film, and a light-emitting device (e.g., an OLED) incorporating the film as an emission layer, have luminescent emitters that are maintained in a desired orientation by incorporating them into a crystalline framework material, such as a metal-organic framework (MOF), covalent organic framework (COF), or porous coordination polymer. The crystal structure in the film has at least one crystallographic axis that is aligned substantially parallel to the planar surface of the film and/or the planar surface of a device substrate on which the film is deposited or grown. The luminescent emitters are held and oriented in the unit cells of the crystalline framework material such that their transition dipoles are substantially parallel to the crystallographic axis, which is in turn substantially parallel to the surface of the film or emission layer of the device through which light is emitted, resulting in improved outcoupling of light.
Abstract:
An array of resonant sensors self-corrects measured values for the effects of environmental conditions, such as operating temperature, pressure or humidity. The resonant sensors have varied frequency responses to N environmental parameters and M chemical parameters. Each of the sensors has a different, non-zero frequency response to at least two of the parameters. The device also comprises at least one detector for detecting frequency responses of the resonant sensors. Individual parameter values are determined for each of the N environmental parameters and M chemical parameters according to the detected frequency responses and a system of equations using calibration terms that relate the frequency responses to the individual parameter values.
Abstract:
A sensor array comprises resonant sensors and porous receptor materials arranged on the resonant sensors to absorb or adsorb one or more analytes. The average pore size of the porous receptor materials on the sensors increases systematically from one sensor to the next in the array. At least one detector is arranged to detect responses of the resonant sensors when the array is exposed to a sample potentially containing one or more of the analytes. In some embodiments, a processor is programmed to determine from the sensor responses the presence, amount or relative concentration of target molecules in the sample.