(287a) Invited Talk: Field Deployable Sensor Arrays with Molecular Selectivity

Microfabricated sensor array is an ideal sensor platform for field deployable miniature sensors. Many such platforms, such as cantilever arrays, have been demonstrated as sensitive sensors for chemical and biological detection. In fact, the array-based sensor platform satisfies almost all of the requirements of an ideal high-performance sensor, such as its very high sensitivity, miniature size, array based multi-analyte detection, and low power consumption. However, despite all of these advantages, many of these sensors still remain only a laboratory tool without commercial success. Poor molecular selectivity, especially for small molecules, as well as the lack of reproducibility, pose formidable challenges in translating this highly sensitive sensor platform into a commercial reality. Enhancing selectivity and sensitivity of these sensors has been the focus of intense investigations over the last decade or so. Traditionally, selectivity in chemical and biological sensing is achieved by using immobilized receptors or chemical interfaces on sensor surfaces. While poor selectivity in small molecule detection using reversible receptors is due to the lack of uniqueness of receptor-analyte interaction, nonuniformity in the immobilized receptor graft density is the reason for unacceptable rates of reproducibility in these sensors. Various strategies are currently used for overcoming the selectivity challenges. These approaches include separation prior to detection and incorporation of multi-modal, multi-physics approaches. Multi-modal, multi-physics data obtained with these approaches, when analyzed using deep learning techniques, show enhanced selectivity, sensitivity, and reliability. I will discuss recent advances as well as the challenges in the development of field deployable miniature sensor arrays for detection of small molecules in vapor phase.