Patent — available for licensing
Automated Picoliter-Scale Functionalization for High-Precision Sensor Arrays
A NASA invention available to explore as a licensing opportunity.
About this technology
Overview
Gas sensors detect target molecules through changes in electrical resistance when analytes interact with the sensor surface. To improve selectivity, sensors are functionalized, meaning they are coated with specialized materials that preferentially bind specific gases. These functional materials, which include quantum dots, nanoparticles, and polymers, act as selective interfaces that enhance the sensor's response to target analytes while minimizing interference from other compounds. However, manual functionalization of sensor arrays is slow, inconsistent, and prone to cross-contamination when multiple functional groups are applied to different sensors on the same chip. Manual methods also suffer from operator-to-operator variability and limited scalability, making them impractical for manufacturing larger quantities of sensor devices. NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center has developed an automated picoliter dispensing method that functionalizes individual sensors with quantum dots, metal nanoparticles, metal oxide nanoparticles, or polymers. The system deposits picoliter volumes with micron-scale precision, enabling batch processing of entire wafers while maintaining sensor-to-sensor consistency and preventing cross-contamination between different materials.