System and method of using luminescent piezoelectric to detect biological and/or chemical agents

A real-time luminescent piezoelectric detector to sense an agent, said detector comprising:

• a free-standing thin film structure;
• a surface layer deposited on said thin film structure, said surface layer being adapted to interact with said agent;
• a frequency driver operable to drive said thin film structure at a frequency to cause said thin film structure to generate light, with said intensity of light generated varying in response to said surface layer interacting with said agent;
• an optical detection system operable to sense light generated by said thin film structure and produce a signal thereto;
• and
• a processor connected to receive said signal and produce output data representative of said agent, said agent being selected from a set of agents consisting of biological agents and chemical agents.

A real-time luminescent piezoelectric detector to sense an agent, said detector comprising:

• a free-standing thin film structure;
• a surface layer deposited on said thin film structure, said surface layer being adapted to interact with said agent, wherein said surface layer is porous and further including a heater in thermal communication with said surface layer;
• a frequency driver operable drive said thin film structure at a frequency to cause said thin film structure to generate light, with said intensity of light generated varying in response to said surface layer interacting with said agent;
• an optical detection system operable to sense light generated by said thin film structure and produce a signal thereto;
• a processor connected to receive said signal and produce output data representative of said agent.

A real-time luminescent piezoelectric detector to sense an agent, said detector comprising:

• a free-standing thin film structure including an electroluminescent phosphor film;
• a surface layer deposited on said thin film structure, said surface layer being adapted to interact with said agent;
• a frequency driver operable to drive said thin film structure at a frequency to cause said thin film structure to generate light, with said intensity of light generated varying in response to said surface layer interacting with said agent;
• an optical detection system operable to sense light generated by said thin film structure and produce a signal thereto;
• and
• a processor connected to receive said signal and produce output data representative of said agent.