VOC Response-Pattern Sensing with the VolTrac™ Platform
Advancing VOC sensing with tunable chemi-resistive sensors designed for low-cost,
low-power, and seamless integration.
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The VolTrac™ VOC Sensor
🚀 NVIDIA Inception Program Member - Accelerating AI-Powered VOC Analysis
Every living organism emits VOCs, unique markers of their physiological state, serving as a chemical dialogue
between species. This chemical language provides insights into biological processes at a granular level. To
harness this data, it's essential to capture response patterns from multiple volatiles and interpret distinct
molecular fingerprints corresponding to defined states. AI algorithms support downstream pattern analysis.
Project VolTrac™ is at the forefront of this endeavor, pioneering the development of cost-effective,
energy-efficient VOC sensors designed for PPB-level sensitivity targets, pattern-level selectivity, and robust
stability. These seamlessly blend with current technologies. Central to our innovation is a chemo-resistive sensing method,
complemented by our unique sensor head preparation— a combo that's scalable and prime for miniaturization.
The Core Principle: Chemi-resistive Arrays
At the heart of the VolTrac™ platform is a chemi-resistive sensor array. Unlike
optical or mass-spectrometry methods which are often bulky and expensive, chemi-resistive
sensors operate by measuring changes in electrical resistance when exposed to target gases.
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Molecular Response Patterns
We functionalize polymers to be response-biased towards specific chemical families
(e.g., aldehydes, ketones, alkanes). While no single sensor is perfectly selective, an
array of diverse sensors creates a unique "fingerprint" for complex mixtures.
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Room Temperature Operation
Unlike metal-oxide (MOX) sensors that require high temperatures (200°C–400°C), our
organic polymer sensors operate effectively at room temperature. This
drastically reduces power consumption and enables compact, portable sensing systems.
AI-Powered Pattern Recognition
AI-Driven Analysis
Raw sensor data is just the beginning. The VolTrac™ platform employs sophisticated pattern
recognition algorithms to interpret the complex signals from the sensor array.
Pattern Recognition: Our AI models analyze the collective response of the
8-sensor array to identify VOC response patterns.
Drift Compensation: Algorithms compensate for environmental factors like
humidity and temperature to support consistent model performance.
Continuous Learning: As we collect more data from the field, our models are
updated to improve response-pattern interpretation over time.
Hardware Specifications
The VolTrac™ sensor module is designed for compact, embedded applications, making it ideal for
integration into medical devices, wearables, and environmental monitors.
Parameter
Specification
Sensor Module Dimensions
30 mm x 30 mm
Weight
4 g
Array Size
8-16 Sensors
Sensitivity
PPB-level targets for selected analytes
Operating Temperature
268K - 318K (Room Temperature)
Measurement Window
~15 seconds
Stability
Evaluated through defined internal test cycles
Readout Interface
Voltage Divider / ADC to Microcontroller
Connectivity
Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
Sensor Specifications
Here are the technical specifications, applications, and use cases of the VolTrac™ VOC sensor.
01 Sensitivity
02 Selectivity
03 Method
04 Applications
Selectivity
The VolTrac™ sensor is designed to capture VOC response patterns with practical selectivity across
selected compound families.
Leveraging our advanced nanotechnology capabilities, the technology functions structurally and
functionally to ensure selectivity. Such meticulous precision paves the
way for its broad application spectrum, supporting consistent response-pattern analysis across
various domains.
Capability
Chemiresistive gas sensing technology is used to capture chemi-resistive response patterns from VOC
exposure for downstream pattern recognition.
A slew of benefits accompany this technology: its heightened sensitivity, swift response rate, minimal
power drain, and affordability stand out. Additionally, the adaptable nature of these sensors makes them
perfect candidates for assimilation into handheld devices, ensuring their aptness for both fixed and
on-the-go monitoring endeavors.
Applications
Health Research and Screening Support: Product-specific applications in breath screening and health
research are being evaluated through defined validation workflows.
Hospitals, schools and public buildings: Real-time monitoring of air-hygiene indicators to support
health, safety and cognitive-performance awareness.
Biosafety Cabinets: Ensuring the integrity of containment environments in high-risk labs.
Food Manufacturing: Early detection of spoilage or contamination in processing lines.
Agriculture: Monitoring crop health, plant stress, pest attacks, ripening, and decaying stages through
plant-emitted VOCs.
Warehousing & Logistics: Detection of off-gassing or chemical leaks in large-scale storage.
Compound Identification: Rapid identification of unknown chemical signatures for industrial safety.
Cold Storage: Ensuring the "freshness" of perishables by tracking ethylene and other gas markers.
Industrial Hygiene: Protecting workers in chemical plants by detecting sub-threshold toxic fumes.
Smart Homes: Integration into HVAC systems for automated air purification based on specific pollutant
detection.
Sensitivity
VolTrac™ is being evaluated for PPB-level sensitivity targets in selected analyte workflows. Stability
is assessed through defined internal test cycles, and performance is maintained within an operating
temperature range of 268K to 318K for diverse environments. This supports response-pattern analysis
across selected application areas.
Sensitivity: PPB-level targets for selected analytes
Stability: Evaluated through defined internal test cycles
Operating temperature: 268K- 318K.
VOC response-pattern capture
Swift response rate
Minimal power drain
Low production cost
Monitoring of perishables
Human breath sensors
Wearable integration
Detection of plant stress
Identification of Mother Trees
Air quality monitoring
Latest Research Update
Secured ISO 13485:2016 certification for the Quality Management System. Secured CDSCO approval for OBA-L
clinical evaluation.
Key Usecases
Some of the straight forward use-cases of the VolTrac™ sensor are as follows;
Assesses environmental air conditions for pollutants or hazards.
Identification of plant-microbe interactions
Identification of plant-microbe interactions
Analyzes the symbiotic relationships between plants and microorganisms.
Pheromone sensor
Pheromone sensor
Detects specific chemical signals emitted by organisms, signaling various behaviors or states.
The importance of sensitivity and selectivity
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are like the alphabets in the language of life. It transmits vital information
that can only be deciphered with the right tools. This is where the dual importance of sensitivity and
selectivity in VOC sensors comes to the fore.
Sensitivity refers to the sensor's capability to detect even minuscule amounts of a specific compound in
a given medium. Quantified in units such as Parts Per Million (PPM) or Parts Per Billion (PPB), sensitivity
essentially gauges the sensor's efficiency in recognizing low-concentration response changes in a given test
setup. VolTrac™ is being developed for PPB-level sensitivity targets in selected analyte workflows, enabling
response-pattern analysis of subtle VOC changes.
Selectivity, on the other hand, revolves around a sensor array's proficiency in differentiating response
patterns between diverse analytes. This discernment becomes particularly critical when dealing with complex
biological systems wherein numerous VOCs might coexist. Leveraging advanced nanotechnology, our sensors are
engineered to support structurally and functionally distinct response patterns.
When interfacing with biology, where the stakes are high and the language intricate, sensors must be acutely
sensitive to pick up even the faintest whispers of VOCs and very selective to accurately interpret the said
signals without confusion.
VolTrac™, History at a glance
A quick view of how VolTrac™ has evolved across sensor performance, IP milestones and
real-world pilot evaluations.
Sensors & Performance
2019 Dec – VolTrac™ research programme launched.
2021 Dec – First 1 cm² sensor prototype built.
2022 May – Chemically stable VOC sensor head fabricated.
2022 Aug – 100 ppb detection in controlled facility.
2023 Mar – Multi-channel VOC sensor array validated in lab.
