SBIR Phase I: Trace Peroxide Sensor for the Detection of Homemade Explosives

这个小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段研究项目寻求开发一种用于检测自制爆炸物的过氧化氢传感器，以解决机场安检技术中的关键能力差距。这一概念涉及在探测器上自组装过氧化氢敏感涂层，具有高灵敏度和高选择性的化学放大响应。目标是制作概念验证过氧化氢探测器的原型，并确定其探测极限和虚警率，以评估由现有成像和探测设备与拟议的过氧化氢传感器组成的爆炸物探测系统的预期性能。从普通液体过氧化氢中提取的自制炸药是最近破坏客机的恐怖阴谋的核心，机场的常规痕量爆炸物探测系统(EDS)无法可靠地探测到这些爆炸物。它们的工作温度会将过氧化氢降解成难以区分的分子碎片。高灵敏度和高选择性过氧化氢传感器的拟议开发填补了美国运输安全管理局(TSA)的一个关键空白，该管理局正在紧急寻找一种传感器，用于可靠地检测基于过氧化氢的自制炸药及其前体。通过将可靠的痕迹检测功能整合到行李成像设备中，整个爆炸物检测系统的虚警率可以降至接近零的水平。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I research project seeks to develop a peroxide sensor for the detection of homemade explosives, addressing a critical capability gap in airport security technology. The concept involves self-assembly of a peroxide sensitive coating on a detector, featuring a chemically amplified response for high sensitivity and selectivity. The objective is to prototype a proof-of-concept peroxide detector and determine its limit of detection and false alarm rate, in order to assess the expected performance of an explosives detection system that consists of existing imaging and detection equipment coupled with the proposed peroxide sensor. Homemade explosives derived from ordinary liquid peroxides have been central to recent terrorist plots to sabotage airliners and are not reliably detected by conventional trace explosives detection systems (EDS) in airports. They operate at temperatures that degrade peroxides into indistinguishable molecular fragments. The proposed development of a highly sensitive and selective peroxide sensor fills a critical gap for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which is urgently seeking a sensor for the reliable detection of peroxide-based homemade explosives and their precursors. By incorporating reliable trace detection capabilities into baggage imaging equipment, the false alarm rate of the overall explosive detection system can be reduced to near-zero levels.