Advances in a nanomaterial-based detector platform arrive thanks in large part to Mahmooda Sultana's fund winnings. The $2 million award comes from NASA's Goodard Space Flight Center and will take two years to advance the multifunctional sensor. If the advances in research go well, the technology could help NASA with sending humans to the Moon and Mars. The platforms would be installed on rovers to find tiny traces of water and methane. It could also be used to monitor astronauts or be used as biological sensors to help with astronauts health and safety. The sensors are capable of detecting minute concentration of gases and vapor, atmospheric pressure and temperature with data transferred wirelessly from there.
Mahmooda Sultana holds onto an earlier version of a sensor circuit board. She and her team hope to improve the technology for future use on the Moon and Mars. (Image Credit: NASA/W. Hrybyk)
Early Career Initiative (ECi) is a 3D printing system that applies nanomaterials in layers onto a substrate, creating tiny sensors. Each sensor is able to detect a different gas, pressure level or temperature. Nanomaterials like carbon nanotubes, graphene, molybdenum disulfide all have some unique properties. They can be used in extreme conditions due to their stability levels and are highly sensitive. They are lightweight, protected from radiation and consume less power - allowing them to be used on space applications. Currently, the sensors have difficulty distinguishing between what is water, methane and ammonia. In the future, the team hopes the sensors will be able to pick up on those.
The sensor will also determine which two materials are more suitable for measuring minute, parts-per-billion life-supporting chemicals like water, methane, ammonia and hydrogen. Using Sultana's design, the university will then use its Nanoscale Offset Printing System to create the nanomaterials. Once the materials have been printed, her group will make the sensors functional by adding layers of nanoparticles to increase their sensitivity, integrate the sensors with readout electronics and put the platform together. This approach is different from how technologists normally create multifunctional sensors. 3D printing allows technicians to print out a variety of sensors on one platform instead of creating one sensor at a time and applying it to the supporting components. This makes the packaging process easier.
Sultana also plans on printing on the same circuit to promote a better wireless communications system that makes it easier to communicate with the ground control team. Once these have been printed, the sensors and wireless antenna will be put onto a printed circuit board that contains the electronics, power source and the communications circuit.
Have a story tip? Message me at: cabe(at)element14(dot)com