EXP-SA: Ultra-Sensitive Sensory Materials for Detection of Explosives Vapor

这项建议旨在发展各种方法，以检测各种气相爆炸物。 基于他在放大用于爆炸物检测的荧光聚合物方面的开创性工作，这是目前美军在伊拉克使用的主要爆炸物检测系统，PI将探索基于光学和电学转换方案的新概念，使低挥发性爆炸物的超痕量检测成为可能。 将为新的点探测系统以及能够进行远距离探测的遥感器制定计划。 智力优势：使用廉价的便携式分布式传感器对化学品进行超痕量检测需要在化学事件的转导/放大方面取得进展。 为了实现所需的灵敏度，提出了三种不同的方案。 激子的传输，以提供信号增益将扩大在放大荧光聚合物和碳纳米管中证明。 通过碳纳米管的电传导也将用于产生放大的传感信号，因为沿着管的单个分析物结合事件沿着可以影响整个系统的电导。此外，基于分子和聚合物传感材料的新方法将在黑暗背景下产生新的荧光信号。 将通过结合受体、新的反应化学和光氧化/还原过程来解决不同爆炸物的化学特性问题。通过开发多种有效识别特定爆炸物的方法，将能够实现多重传感方案。这一阵列概念将在包含两种不同感觉材料的设备中得到证明，这些材料能够产生正交的感觉反应。更广泛的影响：研究结果将被纳入本科实验室课程。 PI将让学生与负责开发未来技术的政府官员会面。PI在将技术过渡到真实的世界应用方面有着良好的记录，因此拟议的研究可能会为警察、消防队员、士兵、公司、机场、私人保安、公共活动和情报机构带来新的能力。

This proposal seeks to develop methods to detect a broad array of explosives in the vapor phase. Building upon his pioneering work in amplifying fluorescent polymers for explosives detection, which is presently the main explosive detection system used by US forces in Iraq, the PI will explore new concepts based upon optical and electrical transduction schemes that enable ultra-trace detection of low volatility explosives. Schemes will be developed for new point detection systems as well as remote sensors capable of standoff detection. Intellectual Merit: The ultra-trace detection of chemicals with inexpensive portable distributed sensors requires advances in the transduction/amplification of chemical events. To achieve the needed sensitivities, three different schemes are proposed. The transport of excitons to give signal gain will be extended in amplifying fluorescent polymers and demonstrated in carbon nanotubes. Electrical conduction through a carbon nanotube will also be used to create amplified sensory signals because a single analyte binding event along the tube can affect the entire system's conductance. In addition, new methods based upon molecular and polymeric sensory materials will create new fluorescence signals on dark backgrounds. The issue of chemical specificity to different explosives will be addressed by incorporating receptors, new reaction chemistry, and photooxidation/ reduction processes. Multiplexed sensory schemes will be enabled by the development of multiple methods that effectively function to uniquely recognize specific explosives. This array concept will be demonstrated in devices containing two different sensory materials that are capable of orthogonal sensory responses.Broader Impact: The research results will be incorporated into an undergraduate laboratory course. The PI will engage students in meetings with government officials who have responsibilities for developing future technologies. The PI has a strong track record of transitioning technology to real world applications and hence the proposed research will likely lead to new capabilities for use by police, fire fighters, soldiers, corporations, airports, private security, public events, and intelligence agencies.