NIST develops improved chemical sensor

GAITHERSBURG, Md., Nov. 3 (UPI) -- U.S. government scientists say they've created an improved electronic chemical detector comprised of 16 microheater elements and eight types of sensors.

Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology said their marriage of sensitive detector technology capable of distinguishing hundreds of different chemical compounds with a pattern-recognition module that mimics the way animals recognize odors has created a new approach for "electronic noses."

The NIST scientists said their detector is more adept than conventional methodologies at recognizing molecular features even for chemicals it has not been trained to detet, and is also robust enough to deal with changes in sensor response that come with wear and tear.

"The detector could be a potent tool for applications such as sniffing out nerve agents, environmental contaminants, and trace indicators of disease, in addition to monitoring industrial processes and aiding in space exploration," the researchers said in a statement.