Ultrasensitive, ultrathin thermodynamic sensing platforms for the detection of chemical compounds at trace levels are disclosed. Embodiments of the ultrathin sensor comprise substrate, adhesion, microheater, and catalyst layers. A sensor array may include a plurality of sensors each having a different catalyst. When a sensor array exposed to an analyte, each of the various sensors of the array may experience an endothermic reaction, an exothermic reaction, or no reaction. A comparison of the reaction results to data comprising previously-obtained reaction results may be used to determine information on the analyte. Advantageously, these ultrathin vapor sensors utilize less power and provide greater sensitivity, and may be used to detect and identify analytes at the PPT level. Specialized sensors configured to detect analytes falling into a certain category (e.g., explosives, drugs and narcotics, biomarkers, etc.) are disclosed, as well as general purpose sensors capable of detecting analytes from a plurality of categories.

The present disclosure provides a hydrogen peroxide sterilization sensor and method of use. The sensor includes: at least one thermal indicator component independently selected from an electronic thermal sensor, an irreversible temperature indicator, and a heat-shrinkable film; a reactant-functional porous sorbent in thermal contact (which may or may not be direct physical contact) with the at least one thermal indicator component; and a reactant comprising a material that reacts exothermically with hydrogen peroxide. The reactant is impregnated in the porous sorbent. The method includes: providing a hydrogen peroxide sterilization sensor; allowing hydrogen peroxide to contact the reactant to generate thermal energy sufficient to cause a response from the at least one thermal indicator component; and detecting that conditions for the hydrogen peroxide sterilization have been met.

A gas sensor (1) including a first gas detection element (2) and a second gas detection element (3), a first storage portion (4) having a first internal space (4A), and a first opening (4B) establishing communication between the first internal space (4A) and the outside space thereof exposed to a detection subject atmosphere, a second storage portion (5) having a second internal space (5A) and a second opening (5B) establishing communication between the second internal space (5A) and the outside space, a first membrane (4C) allowing permeation of water vapor and substantially not allowing permeation of a detection target gas, and covering the first opening (4B), and a calculation unit (12) for calculating the concentration of a detection target gas contained in the detection subject atmosphere, based on outputs from the first and second gas detection elements (2, 3), respectively.

A detection device for detecting a marker in a liquid, comprising a reaction chamber, provided with a thermosensitive sensor, wherein said reaction chamber comprises an photopolymer capable of releasing or generating a chemical species that is capable of undergoing or initiating an exothermic or endothermic chemical reaction with a marker present in the liquid.

A photothermal absorbance detection apparatus comprises a flow cell comprising a first temperature responsive device on an input side, a second temperature responsive device on an output side, and a detection region between the first temperature responsive device and the second temperature responsive device; and a light-emitting device positioned proximate to the detection region and configured to transmit electromagnetic radiation towards the detection region; wherein the first temperature responsive device and the second temperature responsive device together measure a change in temperature of a fluid passing through the detection region.

Ultrasensitive, ultrathin thermodynamic sensing platforms for the detection of chemical compounds in the vapor phase at trace levels are disclosed. Embodiments of the ultrathin vapor sensor comprise a substrate layer, an adhesion layer, a metallic microheater layer, and a catalyst layer. A sensor array may be provided including a plurality of sensors each having a different catalyst. When a sensor array exposed to an analyte, each of the various ultrathin vapor sensors of the array may experience an endothermic reaction, an exothermic reaction, or no reaction. A comparison of the reaction results to data comprising previously-obtained reaction results may be used to determine the presence and the identity of the analyte. Advantageously, these ultrathin vapor sensors utilize less power and provide greater sensitivity than known systems, and may be used to detect and identify analytes at the parts per trillion level. Specialized sensors configured to detect analytes falling into a certain category (e.g., explosives, drugs and narcotics, biomarkers, etc.) as disclosed, as well as general purpose sensors capable of detecting analytes from a plurality of categories.

Disclosed is an apparatus for acquiring polarized images attached to a thermal analysis apparatus including a pair of sample containers housing a measurement sample and a reference sample, respectively, and a heating furnace, configured to observe at least the measurement sample through a window or an opening of the heating furnace, and including an attachment section attached to the thermal analysis apparatus, a light source, a polarizer configured to polarize light emitted from the light source, a camera and an analyzer polarize light reflected from the measurement sample or the reference sample to enter the camera after the measurement sample or the reference sample is irradiated via the window or the opening with polarized light transmitted through the polarizer. A first optical path of the polarizer and a second optical path of the analyzer are not parallel, and both the polarizer and the analyzer are rotatable.

Embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure are directed to methods and apparatuses used for extracting heavy rare gas. An example method includes passing inlet air through an airflow path of an apparatus, removing carbon dioxide and gaseous water from the inlet air, and cooling the inlet air to a threshold temperature while passing along the airflow path. The method further includes passing the cooled inlet air through an adsorption chamber of the apparatus to adsorb heavy rare gas from the cooled inlet air while the cooled inlet air is in a gaseous state, and extracting the heavy rare gas from the adsorption chamber.

Embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure are directed to methods and apparatuses used for extracting heavy rare gas. An example method includes passing inlet air through an airflow path of an apparatus, removing carbon dioxide and gaseous water from the inlet air, and cooling the inlet air to a threshold temperature while passing along the airflow path. The method further includes passing the cooled inlet air through an adsorption chamber of the apparatus to adsorb heavy rare gas from the cooled inlet air while the cooled inlet air is in a gaseous state, and extracting the heavy rare gas from the adsorption chamber.

A dilatometer includes a housing, a sample carrier and a dimensional sensor. The housing defines a test chamber and an inlet port in communication with the test chamber. The sample carrier is disposed in the test chamber and includes a sample retention portion. The sample retention portion is configured to retain a material sample thereto. The dimensional sensor is coupled with the sample carrier and is configured to facilitate detection of dimensional changes in the material sample.