# Low SWaP Phosgene Clip Detector

> **NIH ALLCDC R43** · INTELLIGENT OPTICAL SYSTEMS, INC. · 2023 · $256,502

## Abstract

Project Summary
Phosgene is essential to the manufacturing of products used in everyday life such as flexible foams, thermoplastic
polyurethane, and sealants and elastomers. It is also a building block for many plastics, pesticides, and
pharmaceuticals. However, at room temperature phosgene is an extremely toxic, colorless gas—exposure can
cause immediate symptoms of eye and skin irritation, and symptoms of respiratory distress such as coughing,
tightness in the chest, difficulty breathing, pneumonia, or heart failure that may not manifest until 6-24 hours after
exposure. Therefore, phosgene-producing facilities need large phosgene detectors for wide-area monitoring, as
well as phosgene indicator badges for monitoring individuals. Electrochemical detectors perform real-time
monitoring with audio alarms for phosgene exposure, but they are expensive and can only be installed in limited
locations. A wearable colorimetric indicator badge is the standard means of monitoring individuals. It indicates
the presence of phosgene by changing color, but the disadvantage is that the worker must constantly look at the
badge to ensure their personal safety because it does not actively alert them to danger. Intelligent Optical Systems,
Inc. (IOS) proposes to develop a low SWaP (size, weight, and power), low-cost wearable phosgene sensor for
individuals that will incorporate a highly selective colorimetric phosgene sensor film with a highly sensitive
optical readout unit that will trigger an audible alarm when the worker is exposed to phosgene levels that exceed
a set threshold.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10696656
- **Project number:** 1R43OH012575-01
- **Recipient organization:** INTELLIGENT OPTICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** Lihua Zhang
- **Activity code:** R43 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** ALLCDC
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $256,502
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2023-09-01 → 2024-02-29

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10696656

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10696656, Low SWaP Phosgene Clip Detector (1R43OH012575-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10696656. Licensed CC0.

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