Explosive detection and identification using X-ray fluorescence and thermal fingerprint of silica encapsulated nanoparticles

Abstract

This paper describes a nanoparticle-based explosive’s marking technique for pre-blast detection and post-blast identification of explosives. Trace explosive containing a panel of metallic nanoparticles (metals and alloys) can be detected by nanoparticles’ characteristic X-ray fluorescence, and identified by their unique thermal properties (i.e., composition dependent melting temperatures and discrete and sharp melting peaks in differential scanning calorimeter). The selected nanoparticles added into explosive are easy to manufacture and safe to use, do not affect explosive performance, can survive blast, thus will greatly reduce threats of unlawful uses of explosives.