This invention presents a compact, wireless air sampling system that detects volatile organic compounds (VOCs) using nanostructured gold nanoparticle sensor arrays. Integrating low-power electronics, environmental compensation, and onboard machine learning, it enables real-time, remote VOC analysis for environmental and health diagnostics, with applications in breath monitoring, air quality, and industrial safety.
Background: Accurate detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is essential for environmental monitoring and medical diagnostics, yet current systems often face instability, high power requirements, and limited specificity. Commercial VOC sensors typically demand high excitation currents that induce heating and drift, while lacking wireless connectivity and portability for continuous or point-of-care deployment. A stable, selective, and low-power sensing platform is required to enable sensitive, portable VOC monitoring across diverse environmental and health-related contexts.
Technology Overview: The Portable, Wireless, Array Sensor (PWAS) system utilizes nanostructured chemiresistor arrays composed of molecularly-mediated gold nanoparticles on interdigitated electrodes to detect VOCs via resistance modulation upon adsorption. Its custom electronic circuitry allows programmable excitation currents from 6 nA to 1.2 mA, preventing sensor heating and degradation. Integrated temperature and humidity sensors provide real-time environmental compensation. A micro air pump and optional VOC pre-concentrator enable active sampling, while onboard processing applies machine learning algorithms for VOC classification. Wireless connectivity supports cloud-based monitoring, and the battery-powered design enables portable, real-time, and non-invasive VOC analysis.
Advantages: • Enhanced sensor stability through low-current operation minimizing heating and drift • High specificity and sensitivity using molecularly-mediated gold nanoparticle arrays • Wireless data transmission with cloud-based monitoring and analytics • Low power consumption (≤120 mW) enabling long-term portable operation • Integrated air sampling and pre-concentration for improved detection sensitivity • Non-invasive breath analysis capability for medical diagnostics • Compact, modular design suitable for wearable and point-of-care deployment
Applications: • Non-invasive breath analysis for disease screening and health monitoring • Continuous indoor and outdoor air quality assessment • Wearable VOC exposure monitoring for industrial safety • Automated food and agricultural spoilage detection • Environmental and occupational hazard detection systems • Advanced research platform for chemical sensing and nanomaterial development
Intellectual Property Summary: • United States – 63/456,961 – Provisional – Filed 04/04/2023 – Converted • United States – 18/625,659 – Utility – Filed 04/03/2024 – Publication No. US-2025-0003909-A1 – Status: Filed
Stage of Development: Prototype validated on human breath samples.
Licensing Status: This technology is available for licensing.
Licensing Potential: Promising for partners in environmental monitoring, healthcare diagnostics, and wearable sensing systems seeking a miniaturized, intelligent VOC detection solution for portable or remote applications.
Additional Information: Prototype performance data and VOC classification results using machine learning available upon request.
Inventors: Chuan Jian Zhong, Dong Dinh, Guojun Shang, Jin Luo, Shan Yan, Susan Lu