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

这项提议寻求开发各种方法来检测气相中的各种爆炸物。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，这是目前驻伊拉克美军使用的主要爆炸物检测系统，PI将探索基于光学和电气转换方案的新概念，这些方案能够实现对低挥发性爆炸物的超痕量检测。将为新的点检测系统以及能够进行对峙检测的远程传感器制定方案。智能优点：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。为了获得所需的灵敏度，提出了三种不同的方案。激子对信号增益的传输将在放大荧光聚合物中得到扩展，并在碳纳米管中得到演示。通过碳纳米管的导电也将被用来产生放大的感觉信号，因为沿着碳纳米管的单个分析物结合事件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炸药的化学专一性问题。多种有效识别特定爆炸物的方法的发展将使多路传感方案成为可能。这种阵列的概念将在包含两种不同感官材料的设备中进行演示，这两种材料能够产生正交的感官反应。更广泛的影响：研究成果将被纳入本科实验室课程。PI将让学生参加与负责开发未来技术的政府官员的会议。PI在将技术过渡到现实世界应用方面有着良好的记录，因此拟议的研究可能会导致警察、消防员、士兵、公司、机场、私人安全、公共活动和情报机构使用新的能力。

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.