1.4.6 Microsensors for Mars: Trace Analyte Detection in a Simulated Martian Environment
- Event
- 14th International Meeting on Chemical Sensors - IMCS 2012
2012-05-20 - 2012-05-23
Nürnberg/Nuremberg, Germany - Chapter
- 1.4 Sensors Arrays
- Author(s)
- K. Benkstein, P. Rogers, C. Montgomery, S. Semancik - National Institute of Standards and Technology, Material Measurement Laboratory (USA), J. Jin, B. Raman - Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University (USA)
- Pages
- 130 - 133
- DOI
- 10.5162/IMCS2012/1.4.6
- ISBN
- 978-3-9813484-2-2
- Price
- free
Abstract
Chemiresistive microsensor arrays are being developed and tested in a simulated Martian environment. Target analyte species include trace small molecules that may indicate current geological or, potentially, biological activity on Mars. The sensing films are based upon robust, nano-structured metal oxide materials, including doped and undoped tin oxide, tungsten oxide and indium oxide. In combination with dynamic operating temperatures and advanced signal processing, we show in this presentation the capabilities of the microsensor arrays for analyte discrimination and quantification at target levels below 500 nmol/mol in a simulated Martian environment. The simulated environment uses a carbon dioxide-rich background and low temperature and pressure.