Fiber-based chemical sensing and sensing platforms with colorimetric dyes

Chemical warfareagents (CWAs) such as nerve and blister agentsare expected to pose continuing and growing dangers for the Warfighter in the future. We investigate a novel chemical detection modality, based on a new platform for colorimetric detection of chemical threatsincorporated in hollow fibers, which are miniature in two dimensions and extendable (“extrudable”) in the third dimension (along the fiber length). By exploring fibers, and films that can be scaled to a fiber geometry, we will enable a new fiber-based chemical threatdetector that can serve in textiles worn by the Warfighter (e.g., uniform), as well as in non-worn textiles and an outlying fenceor perimeter for early detection of a threatcloud near an expeditionary shelter, outpost, encampment, or base.