Inelastic electron tunneling air monitor

1. A method of forming an air monitor device, the method comprising:

placing a sorbent polymer membrane on a material of n type conductivity;

placing an electrode on the membrane;

placing a thermoelectric heater in thermal communication with the membrane; and

placing the membrane, material, and electrode in a sealed container including a valve to form the air monitor device, the valve effective to selectively expose the membrane to an environment outside of the container.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the membrane includes polyethylene and polypropylene or polytetrafluoroethylene.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the material is a first material of n+ conductivity and the method further comprises:

placing the first material on a second material of p type conductivity; and

making a trench in the second material to expose part of the membrane.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the material is a first material of n+ conductivity and the method further comprises:

placing the first material on a second material of p type conductivity; and

etching a trench in the second material to expose part of the membrane using alkali hydroxide anisotropic etching.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, prior to placing the sorbent membrane on the material of n type conductivity, exposing the membrane to a gas to make the membrane porous.

6. An air monitor device comprising:

a sorbent polymer membrane on a material of n type conductivity;

an electrode on the membrane;

a thermoelectric heater in thermal communication with the membrane; and

the membrane, n type material, and electrode in a sealed container, wherein the sealed container includes a valve effective to selectively expose the membrane to an environment outside of the container.

7. The device of claim 6 , wherein the membrane includes polyethylene and polypropylene or polytetrafluoroethylene.

8. The device of claim 6 , wherein the container is made of a Fe—Ni Alloy 42, an iron nickel cobalt alloy, Cu—W, Mo, or BeO.

9. The device of claim 6 , further comprising:

a first lead, wherein the first lead extends partially inside and partially outside the container;

a second lead, wherein the second lead extends partially inside and partially outside the container;

a first wire in communication with the electrode and the first lead; and

a second wire in communication with the n type material and the second lead.

10. The device of claim 6 , further comprising:

a first lead, wherein the first lead extends partially inside and partially outside the container;

a second lead, wherein the second lead extends partially inside and partially outside the container;

a first wire in communication with the electrode and the first lead;

a second wire in communication with the n type material and the second lead;

a power source in communication with the first lead and the second lead;

a current measuring device in communication with at least one of the first lead and the second lead; and

a processor in communication with the power source and the current measuring device.

11. The device of claim 6 , wherein the material is a first material of n+ conductivity and the device further comprises the first material on a second material of p type conductivity.

12. The device of claim 6 , wherein the material is a first material of n+ conductivity and the device further comprises:

the first material on a second material of p type conductivity; and

a trench in the second material, wherein the trench is effective to expose part of the membrane.

13. A method for monitoring air using an air monitoring device, the method comprising:

opening a valve of the air monitoring device;

heating a sorbent membrane of the air monitoring device sufficient to at least partially liberate a substance in the membrane;

closing the valve;

applying a first voltage across the membrane;

detecting a first current through the membrane while the first voltage is applied across the membrane;

determining a first fingerprint of the membrane based on the first voltage and first current;

opening the valve;

sorbing an analyte from the air in the membrane;

closing the valve;

applying a second voltage across the membrane;

detecting a second current through the membrane while the second voltage is applied across the membrane;

determining a second fingerprint of the membrane with the analyte based on the second voltage and second current;

subtracting the first fingerprint from the second fingerprint to determine a third fingerprint of the analyte; and

comparing the third fingerprint of the analyte with a library of fingerprints to identify the analyte.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the membrane is a polymer.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the membrane includes polyethylene and polypropylene or polytetrafluoroethylene.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the container is made of a Fe—Ni Alloy 42, an iron nickel cobalt alloy, Cu—W, Mo, or BeO.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein:

the sorbent membrane is on a material of n type conductivity;

an electrode is on the membrane;

a thermoelectric heater is in thermal communication with the membrane; and

wherein the membrane, material, and electrode are in a sealed container including the valve.

18. The method of claim 13 , wherein:

the sorbent membrane is on a first material of n+ type conductivity;

an electrode is on the membrane;

the first n+ type material is on, or doped within, a second material of p type conductivity;

a thermoelectric heater is in thermal communication with the membrane; and

the membrane, material, and electrode are in a sealed container including the valve.

19. The method of claim 13 , wherein:

the sorbent membrane is on a first material of n+ type conductivity;

an electrode is on the membrane;

the first n+ type material is on, or doped within a second material of p type conductivity;

a trench in the second material is effective to expose part of the membrane;

a thermoelectric heater is in thermal communication with the membrane; and

the membrane, material, and electrode in a sealed container including the valve.