Design of an efficient measurement cell for characterizing sensing properties of nanostructured sensitive layers coated on chips

Abstract In the domain of defense and security, there is a strong need to develop more sensitive and selective sensors for explosive traces. This involves testing of sensing systems. We designed an efficient flow cell, coupled to explosive-vapors generation in ultra-trace amounts and to downstream analysis of the concentration by Fast GC/ECD. This test bench is a tool for characterizing the adsorption behavior of sensing layers coated on chips, without any in situ readout. The laminar gas flow over the chip surface ensures a highly reliable operation. The performance of the system has been assessed using non-adsorbing and adsorbing material samples. The system allows the precise evaluation of sensing layers for the development of extremely sensitive detector systems.