Abstract
This work explores the use of a green-light-emitting copolymer as a chemosensor to detect nitroaromatic-based explosive vapors by recording photoluminescence (PL) and time-resolved PL decay. We show successful detection of 10 ppb 1,4-dinitrobenzene (DNB) vapor. Both a conventional time-correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) device and CMOS time-resolved fluorescence lifetime micro-system are used in the DNB detection. An ultra-portable on-site explosive sensor based on the micro-system has also been demonstrated. This gives rise to the potential for real-time, reliable, inexpensive organic/inorganic hybrid explosives detection.
Highlights
There is currently a critical need for rapid in-field methods of sensing explosive compounds due to the increased security issues and threats across the world
The PL lifetime was measured with a conventional time-correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) system with an excitation from a 457 nm LED
We have shown that the conjugated copolymer CDT Green (CDTG), in combination with a CMOS PL lifetime detection system, can be used as a chemosensor for detecting low vapor pressure nitro-aromatic molecules
Summary
There is currently a critical need for rapid in-field methods of sensing explosive compounds due to the increased security issues and threats across the world. Conjugated polymers have emerged as a promising chemosensory material for detecting nitroaromatic explosive vapours, as they readily transform a chemical interaction into an measured optical output with high sensitivity.[2,3] The explosive vapour analyte consists of nitrated molecules which are strongly electron-deficient, while the conjugated polymer sensing materials are electronrich. This means that the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) of the explosive vapour is at lower energy (further from the vacuum) than the LUMO of the polymer. Several sensing mechanisms such as photoluminescence (PL), amplified spontaneous emission (ASE), and lasing have been explored for explosives detection.[4]
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