Grant: Research Tools and Instruments
Institut national de la recherche scientifique
$150,000.00
Terahertz Chemical Microscope - from Bench to Bedside and from Laboratory to Industry
FY 2017-18
Summary
Photonics is an enabling technology that creates opportunities for innovation in downstream markets. Every so often, an unconventional but revolutionary technology provides a unique opportunity for quantum leaps in innovation. In this project, we propose to develop several new applications of a such novel technique for terahertz (THz) detection and imaging, named the Terahertz Chemical Microscope (TCM). The TCM uses THz radiation to monitor chemical reactions. When a near-infrared (IR) femtosecond laser irradiates a specially fabricated sensing plate of the TCM, electromagnetic pulses are generated, which are typically in the THz regime. In a TCM, a sensing film is fabricated on top of the sensing plate, which has high selectivity to the chemical to be detected. When chemicals attach to this sensing film, the intensity of the THz radiation changes. Therefore, changes in the chemical and electric potentials at the surface of the sensing film can be measured as changes in the amplitude of the THz pulse. The TCM has several advantages over conventional THz spectroscopy and imaging techniques, such as the ability to probe substances (such as aqueous solutions) that are highly absorptive or scattering in the THz range. In this project, we propose to transfer TCM technology from bench to bedside, and from laboratory to industry. Experiments using the TCM will be performed to further advance our recent results on detecting breast cancer cells, and to develop new techniques to detect and monitor amyloid beta protein. We will also work with industry to develop high-quality sensing plates, which are not available commercially, despite it critical importance in TCM measurements. The TCM will also be used to study new applications with high relevance to industry, such as identifying catalytically active phages, and improving cathodes for fuel cells. To allow such research, we are requesting two near-IR femtosecond lasers for the TCM, and a TCM setup to be used in our collaborators laboratory.
Program
Research Tools and Instruments
Location
Quebec, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
RTI-2018-00510
Name nom
Ozaki, Tsuneyuki
Department département
Centre Énergie, Matériaux et Télécommunications (ÉMT) Varennes - Centre Énergie,
Organization id
56
Institution établissement
Institut national de la recherche scientifique
Province en
Québec
Province fr
Québec
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2017
Competition year année de concours
2018
Award amount
150000
Program id
RTI
Program name en
Research Tools and Instruments
Program name fr
Outils et instruments de recherche
Group en
Discovery grants programs
Group fr
Programmes de subventions à la découverte
Committee code
1605
Committee name en
Physics (RTI)
Committee name fr
Physique (OIR)
Area of application code
518
Area of application group en
Manufacturing processes and products
Area of application group fr
Procédés et produits industriels
Area of application en
Medical equipment and apparatus
Area of application fr
Appareils et instruments médicaux
Research subject code
1901
Research subject group en
Biomedical engineering
Research subject group fr
Génie biomédical
Research subject en
Biomedical technology
Research subject fr
Technologie biomédicale
Partie
1
Nb partie
1
Application title
Terahertz Chemical Microscope - from Bench to Bedside and from Laboratory to Industry
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
Photonics is an enabling technology that creates opportunities for innovation in downstream markets. Every so often, an unconventional but revolutionary technology provides a unique opportunity for quantum leaps in innovation. In this project, we propose to develop several new applications of a such novel technique for terahertz (THz) detection and imaging, named the Terahertz Chemical Microscope (TCM). The TCM uses THz radiation to monitor chemical reactions. When a near-infrared (IR) femtosecond laser irradiates a specially fabricated sensing plate of the TCM, electromagnetic pulses are generated, which are typically in the THz regime. In a TCM, a sensing film is fabricated on top of the sensing plate, which has high selectivity to the chemical to be detected. When chemicals attach to this sensing film, the intensity of the THz radiation changes. Therefore, changes in the chemical and electric potentials at the surface of the sensing film can be measured as changes in the amplitude of the THz pulse. The TCM has several advantages over conventional THz spectroscopy and imaging techniques, such as the ability to probe substances (such as aqueous solutions) that are highly absorptive or scattering in the THz range. In this project, we propose to transfer TCM technology from bench to bedside, and from laboratory to industry. Experiments using the TCM will be performed to further advance our recent results on detecting breast cancer cells, and to develop new techniques to detect and monitor amyloid beta protein. We will also work with industry to develop high-quality sensing plates, which are not available commercially, despite it critical importance in TCM measurements. The TCM will also be used to study new applications with high relevance to industry, such as identifying catalytically active phages, and improving cathodes for fuel cells. To allow such research, we are requesting two near-IR femtosecond lasers for the TCM, and a TCM setup to be used in our collaborators laboratory.
