# US 11,209,376 B2 · Systems, sensing devices and methods for detection of airborne contaminants

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- Number: US 11,209,376 B2
- Document ID: US11209376B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/407,860
- Filed: 2013-06-13
- Published: 2015-05-14
- Granted: 2021-12-28
- Earliest claimed: 2010-09-10
- Assignees: Trustees of Dartmouth College
- Applicants: The Trustees of Dartmouth College
- Inventors: Joseph J. Belbruno; Susanne E. Tanski
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11209376B2

## CPC

- G01N 27/126: {comprising organic polymers}
- G01N 33/0073: {Control unit therefor}
- Y10T 436/145555: Hetero-N
- Y10T 436/200833: Carbonyl, ether, aldehyde or ketone containing
- Y10T 436/202499: Formaldehyde or acetone
- Y10T 436/205831: Carbon monoxide only
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A device for detecting airborne contaminants includes a protonated, electrically conductive sensing material with affinity for binding with, and capable of being deprotonated by, the airborne contaminant. Electronics measure a property of the sensing material that is sensitive to deprotonation and generates signals indicative of the airborne contaminant. A method for detecting airborne contaminants includes: determining a property change of the protonated, electrically conductive material; and determining presence of the airborne contaminant based on the change. A system for detecting airborne contaminants includes: a data center in remote communication with multiple sensing devices each having: protonated, electrically conductive sensing material with affinity for binding with, and capable of being depronated by, an airborne contaminant, and electronics for relaying signals indicative of a sensing material deprotonation property to the data center; and wherein a user associated with a sensing device is notified of an abnormal level of the airborne contaminant.

## Claims

### Claim 1

Device for detecting airborne formaldehyde, comprising:
a bulk polymer film including (a) polyethylenimine having affinity for reacting with the airborne formaldehyde to form a first reaction product, and (b) a protonated, electrically conductive polymer having resistance sensitive to deprotonation from reaction with the first reaction product, the protonated, electrically conductive polymer including one or more of polyalinine, polypyrrole, polythiophene, a derivative of polyalinine, a derivative of polypyrrole, a derivative of polythiophene, a copolymer of polyalinine, a copolymer of polypyrrole, a copolymer of polythiophene;
a pair of interdigitated electrodes on a surface of the bulk polymer film; and
electronics for measuring the resistance of the bulk polymer film through measurement of direct-current resistance of the bulk polymer film between the pair of interdigitated electrodes.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

Device of claim 1, the bulk polymer film being molecularly imprinted.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

Device of claim 1, the protonated, electrically conductive polymer comprising polyalinine.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

Device of claim 1, further comprising a clock for time-stamping measurement of the resistance of the bulk polymer film.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

Device of claim 1, the electronics comprising:
processor for processing measurements by the electronics of the resistance of the bulk polymer film,
memory having data for correlating the measurements to a level of the airborne formaldehyde, and
interface for communicating visible, audible, and/or tactile information to a user.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

Device of claim 1, further comprising:
a second bulk polymer film that is protonated and electrically conductive and has (a) affinity for binding with a second airborne contaminant different from the airborne formaldehyde, and (b) resistance sensitive to binding of the second airborne contaminant;
a second pair of interdigitated electrodes on a surface of the second bulk polymer film; and
second electronics for measuring the resistance of the second bulk polymer film through measurement of direct-current resistance of the second bulk polymer film between the second pair of interdigitated electrodes.