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

小企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段研究项目旨在开发一种用于检测自制爆炸物的过氧化物传感器，以解决机场安全技术的关键能力差距。该概念涉及在检测器上自组装过氧化物敏感涂层，具有高灵敏度和选择性的化学放大响应。其目的是原型的概念验证过氧化物检测器，并确定其检测极限和误报率，以评估爆炸物检测系统的预期性能，该系统包括现有的成像和检测设备加上拟议的过氧化物传感器。从普通液体过氧化物中提取的自制爆炸物是最近恐怖分子阴谋破坏客机的核心，机场的常规痕量爆炸物探测系统无法可靠地探测到。它们在将过氧化物降解成无法区分的分子片段的温度下工作。拟议开发的高灵敏度和选择性过氧化物传感器填补了运输安全管理局（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物的自制爆炸物及其前体。通过将可靠的痕量探测能力纳入行李成像设备，整个爆炸物探测系统的误报率可以降低到接近零的水平。

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.