Award Data

DHS and the military have an urgent need for sensitive detectors of harmful materials such as toxic industrial chemicals, explosives, and chemical and biological warfare agents. Handheld instruments must be sensitive, able to detect a wide variety of target compounds in a matter of seconds, reliably discriminate between innocuous and harmful compounds, and be relatively inexpensive. A technology w ...

To overcome the HMTD tendency to detonate, decompose and to be toxic, feasibility studies are essential in Phase I. Few approaches are suggested; starting with a device which has the actual HMTD or HMTD mixed with no-odor matrix. Each option will require a suitable packaging for storage and operation. These feasibility studies will be conducted in lab scale to enable a quick and massive amount of ...

The polycrystalline ceramic proposed in this program will build upon existing MgAl2O4:Ce scintillator technology to explore alternative neutron detection materials as a near term replacement for large 3He tubes. The polycrystalline ceramic neutron detector can achieve high efficiency in capturing thermal neutrons due to its high concentration of active element. Its compact solid state design provi ...

S has a unique requirement to evaluate the performance of biometrics in extremely large systems. To address the requirement, we propose a novel and promising approach including three subsystems to generate large-scale realistic synthetic iris, fingerprint and face images matching the statistical and performance attributes of real-world data. For iris synthesis, we propose a novel and efficient sol ...

High energy density capacitors are needed to provide load flexibility to fuel cells as hybrid power supplied for a variety of WMD sensors and detectors. New materials/manufacturing processes are needed to make these electrical power systems man portable. To develop high performance supercapacitors with fast recharge and high discharging rate electrode materials should have very high surface area. ...

PNTS proposes to develop a truly novel implementation of eye-safe terahertz (THz) spectroscopy that is unprecedented in the standoff detection regime for accuracy, low cost, and portability. PNTS has teamed with SC&A, Inc., and researchers from the University of Memphis to create a world class team of research and development personnel. We are proposing a continuous wave terahertz (THz-CW) spect ...

The objective of this proposal is to develop enabling technology for the production of bulk scintillating nanocomposites that have gamma radiation detection properties of single crystal NaI but with the manufacturability of plastic scintillators. These performance criteria may be met by developing nanoparticle polymer composites with ultra-high nanoparticle loadings. These ‘ultra-composites’ w ...

Analysis of nuclear material samples in the field has many advantages over laboratory analysis. Laboratory analyses can be slow, involve increased expense, lead to additional waste generation and disposal problems, and may introduce errors due to sample degradation or mishandling. In situ analysis mitigates all of these problems. The specific aim of this project is the development of a truly por ...

Enertechnix proposes to adapt its novel aerodynamic lens aerosol concentration technology to provide high flow rate, high efficiency sampling of particles and vapors for use in the detection of Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosives Devices. Our approach combines forced air jet(s) for dislodging particles and vapors from the vehicle surfaces, concentration and collection of dislodged particles, and s ...