Cyclic and Square‐Wave Voltammetric Signatures of Nitro‐Containing Explosives

Abstract

While cathodic voltammetric measurements based on the reduction of nitro-containing explosive compounds have been well documented, little attention has been given for exploiting their anodic response, associated with the oxidation of their reaction products, for qualitative and quantitative security and forensic information. We demonstrate here that cyclic square-wave volammetry, combining the cathodic and anodic signals, offers distinct electrochemical profiles for trace nitroaromatic, nitramine and nitrate ester explosives compared to analogous cyclic-voltammetric and cathodic square-wave-voltammetric measurements. Unique electrochemical signatures are also obtained for commonly used explosive mixtures. Such distinct explosive signatures at disposable strip electrodes should facilitate rapid decentralized security screening applications.

Recent advances in nanomaterial-based sensors for detection of trace nitroaromatic explosives

“…The inherent redox properties of nitroaromatic explosiveswhich come from theirreducible nitro groupsmake them detectable by electrochemical methods [21,22].Carbon-, metal-andporous-naomaterials, and also their hybridsare the most commonly used nanomaterials as electrode modifiers in electrochemically detection of nitroaromatic explosives.…”

Electrochemical Detection of Gunshot Residue for Forensic Analysis: A Review

“…Despite the predominance of electroactive compounds in this list, few attempts at electrochemical detection in connection with GSR are found. This is somewhat surprising as the voltammetric detection of the nitro‐explosive compounds that constitute several of the organic GSR species is well documented in literature at a variety of electrode surfaces in a variety of media, including sea water 5, 32–34. These species are commonly examined using voltammetric detection for security screening and forensics 15, 35–39.These are popular analytes due to the presence of easily‐reducible nitro groups, the voltammetry of which is well understood 35.…”

Selective Voltammetric Measurements of Epinephrine and Norepinephrine in Presence of Common Interferences Using Cyclic Square‐voltammetry at Unmodified Carbon Electrodes

“…Cyclic square‐wave voltammetry has been employed here to demonstrate such selective EP and NE measurements. Such C‐SWV operation combines oxidative and reductive square‐wave voltammetric scans in a cyclic manner to offer qualitative and quantitative information on micromolar concentrations of electroactive species . Both the oxidation and reduction peaks of micromolar levels of target molecules are thus recorded rapidly.…”

“…Both the oxidation and reduction peaks of micromolar levels of target molecules are thus recorded rapidly. C‐SWV has been shown recently to be effective to provide distinct electrochemical fingerprints of gunshot residues to multi‐vitamins in complex mixtures. By presenting oxidation and reduction behavior through C‐SWV, the redox behavior of electroactive molecules can be analyzed in a manner analogous to cyclic voltammetry.…”