Ultra-portable explosives sensor based on a CMOS fluorescence lifetime analysis micro-system

Wang, Yue; Rae, Bruce R.; Henderson, Robert K.; Gong, Zheng; McKendry, Jonathan J. D.; Gu, Erdan; Dawson, Martin D.; Turnbull, Graham A.; Samuel, Ifor D. W.

doi:10.1063/1.3624456

Cited by 19 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…The detection system was attached on one side of the sensing chamber used in previous explosives detection studies [6][7][8]12]. Clean nitrogen was purged for a few seconds through the chamber prior to the 2,4-DNT vapour-line being introduced.…”

Section: System Response To 24-dnt Vapour Flowmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A low-cost, portable optical explosive-vapour sensor

Gillanders

Samuel

Turnbull

2017

Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical

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Highlights Arduino-based optical instrument for explosives detection designed and prototyped  Few-ppb detection of 2,4-DNT achieved under laboratory conditions with simple photodiode circuitry and off-the-shelf microprocessor  Simulated buried landmines successfully detected Abstract Humanitarian demining requires a broad range of methodologies and instrumentation for reliable identification of landmines, antipersonnel mines, and other explosive remnants of war (ERWs). Optical sensing methods are ideal for this purpose due to advantages in sensitivity, time-of-response and small form factor. In this work we present a portable photoluminescence-based sensor for nitroaromatic vapours based on the conjugated polymer Super Yellow integrated into an instrument 2 comprising an excitation LED, photodiode, Arduino microprocessor and pumping mechanics for vapour delivery. The instrument was shown to be sensitive to few-ppb concentrations of explosive vapours under laboratory conditions, and responds to simulated buried landmine vapour. The results indicate that a lightweight, easy-to-operate, low-cost and highly-sensitive optical sensor can be readily constructed for landmine and ERW detection in the field, with potential to aid worldwide efforts in landmine mitigation.

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Section: System Response To 24-dnt Vapour Flowmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There have been extensive studies on conjugated polymer films for explosives detection [6][7][8][9][10][11][12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A low-cost, portable optical explosive-vapour sensor

Gillanders

Samuel

Turnbull

2017

Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical

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“…The PL lifetime is less affected by environmental factors, such as stray light, which should make the sensor more reliable. We have recently reported an ultra-portable compact silicon-based TCSPC micro-system, which could be used for real-time in-field explosive detection [18]. The DFB polymer laser were found to have an even greater responsivity compared to steady-state PL quenching, which is leads to the potential for ultra-lowconcentration explosives sensing.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It has been reported that the CDTG copolymer has a relatively high solid-state photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of 61% [18]. Prior to making a laser, the potential of the copolymer as a gain material was investigated by ASE measurement.…”

Section: Gain Properties and Dfb Laser Sensingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Conjugated polymer sensors for explosive vapor detection

2011

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Explosive sensing is a promising, emerging application for conjugated polymers. One exciting potential area of application is to clear landmines left after military actions. In this work, we demonstrate three ways to detect 10 partsper-billion of the model explosive, 1,4-dinitrobenzene (DNB): by monitoring fluorescence intensity, by measuring fluorescence lifetime, and by distributed-feedback (DFB) laser emission. A quenching of the fluorescence is observed upon DNB exposure. The reversibility of the quenching process has been demonstrated by purging with nitrogen.

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“…The explosive nitro-aromatic analyte DNB (purchased from Sigma-Aldrich and used as received) was used during this investigation as it is chemically similar to the explosive TNT and highly electrondeficient [22]. Explosive solutions were prepared by dissolving a certain amount of DNB in 4ml of acetone and the sample concentration range from 1mg/ml, 2mg/ml, 3mg/ml, 4mg/ml, 5mg/ml (which is 6mM, 12mM, 18mM, 24mM, 30mM), the sample was stirred at room temperature for one hour in order to dissolved completely and stored in amber vials at 2-8 o C to prevent degradation.…”

Section: Preparation Of the Explosives Samplementioning

confidence: 99%