We propose to develop a rapid, high sensitivity, personal monitoring device for hydrazine that is based upon the Surface Triggering of Propagated Crystal Lattice Destabilization (STPCLD) phenomenon. This represents a novel approach to rapid, high sensitivity sensors and is based upon noncovalent derivatization (NCD). The sensor will consist of a two-dimensional cocrystal film of a hydrazine-interacting molecule and a color-forming molecule. When bound within the crystal, the color-former is not colored, but when the crystal liquefies, the color-former takes on color. The uncolored crystal is maintained just below its phase transition temperature. When hydrazine interacts with one of the hydrazine-interacting molecules, it causes a defect in the two-dimensional lattice. Because the composition is chosen near the crystal melting temperature, the crystal is entropically poised to melt. A local liquefication occurs, which spreads rapidly along crystal dislocations.The specific objectives are:1. To synthesize and prepare a set of bis-phthalimide derivatives for testing as hydrazine-interactive substrates.2. To test the set of bis-phthalimide derivatives as hydrazine-interactive substrates for hydrazine induced melting.a. To determine the best substrate.b. To determine the ideal operating temperature.c. To determine the sensitivity to hydrazine and ammonia.3. To design Phase II configuration.
