SI2 TECHNOLOGIES, INC — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: ABSTRACT: SI2 Technologies, Inc. (SI2) proposes to develop printed organic field-effect t

Description

ABSTRACT: SI2 Technologies, Inc. (SI2) proposes to develop printed organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) to meet the Air Force"s need for low-cost, scalable biosensors. SI2 has considerable experience in the roll-to-roll deposition of functional inks. These ink patterns are printed directly from a computer file in an ambient environment without any tooling, masks, etc. In Phase I, SI2 will print and evaluate several OFET biosensor architectures on flexible substrates. Water stability, sensitivity, and analyte selectivity will be demonstrated. Manufacturing of the most promising low-cost biosensors will be scaled-up to roll-to-roll in Phase II, and advanced testing will be performed to demonstrate their exceptional device-to-device reproducibility. BENEFIT: SI2"s printed biosensor technology will combine low-cost manufacturing with high device reproducibility and reliability. These low-cost biosensors will afford reliable analyte detection in aqueous media. As such, SI2"s sensors will be useful for real-time human performance monitoring (e.g., monitoring of attentiveness and fatigue) and environmental monitoring. The data provided by these sensors will improve safety when worn by workers operating dangerous equipment and transportation vehicles, for example. Such data can also provide alerts regarding the presence of toxic chemical and biological species in the environment following industrial accidents.