Hydrophobicity Modulating Underwater Chemical Sensor

Abstract

A chemical sensor that works while being submerged in a highly conductive medium is described. The chemical sensor includes hydrophobic structures that are distributed on conductive electrodes and are separated by small air cavities while submerged in the conductive medium. The hydrophobic structures are arranged such that their hydrophobicity varies in response to exposure to a target analyte. The change in the level of hydrophobicity results in permeation of the conductive liquid on to the conductive electrodes, thereby reducing the resistance levels between the conductive electrodes. The sensor indicates presence of the target analyte in response to detection of a change in resistance between at least two of the conductive electrodes.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.