Unambiguous detection of nitrated explosive vapours by fluorescence quenching of dendrimer films

Geng, Yanfang; Ali, M. A.; Clulow, Andrew J.; Fan, Sheng-Qiang; Burn, Paul L.; Gentle, Ian R.; Meredith, Paul; Shaw, Paul E.

doi:10.1038/ncomms9240

Cited by 88 publications

(96 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…requires analytical methods with high speed and sensitivity [2,3]. Numerous analytical methods, such as laser photoacoustic spectroscopy [4], fluorescence [5][6][7], surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) [8,9], nano-electrical devices [10], mass spectrometry, ion mobility spectroscopy, and X-ray imaging [11] have been used or proposed as suitable methods for the detection and quantification of nitro-explosives, such as 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT), cyclo-1,3,5-trimethylene-2,4,6-trinitramine (RDX) and 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (TNP) et al Capillary electrophoresis (CE) [12], ion chromatography (IC) [13], electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) [14], and electrospray ionization ion mobility spectrometry (ESI-IMS) [15] have been employed to detect characteristic ions of inorganic explosives, such as ClO 4 − , ClO 3 − , or NO 3 − [16,17], which are known for their high stability and non-volatility. Recently, the capability of thermal desorption ion mobility spectrometry (TD-IMS) for the on-site sensitive detection of typical nitro-explosives such as TNT and RDX has been demonstrated.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A positively charged silver nanowire membrane for rapid on-site swabbing extraction and detection of trace inorganic explosives using a portable Raman spectrometer

2016

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The sensitive and on-site detection of inorganic explosives has raised serious concerns regarding public safety. However, high stability and non-volatility features currently limit their rapid on-site detection. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is emerging as a powerful technique for the trace-level detection of different molecules. Plasmonic Ag nanowires were produced by a hydrothermal synthesis method using polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as a negatively charged stabilizer. Here, we report a rapid detection method for inorganic explosives based on a simple surface swab with a positively charged diethyldithiocarbamate-modified Ag nanowire membrane coupled with SERS. This membrane, serving as an excellent SERS substrate with high uniformity, stability, and reusability, can capture both typical oxidizers in inorganic explosives and organic nitro-explosives, via electrostatic interaction. The detection level of perchlorates (ClO 4 − ), chlorates (ClO 3 − ), nitrates (NO 3 − ), picric acid, and 2,4-dinitrophenol is as high as 2.0, 1.7, 0.1, 45.8, and 36.6 ng, respectively. In addition, simulated typical inorganic explosives such as black powders, firecrackers, and match heads could also be detected. We believe that this membrane represents an attractive alternative for rapid on-site detection of inorganic explosives with high efficiency.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A positively charged silver nanowire membrane for rapid on-site swabbing extraction and detection of trace inorganic explosives using a portable Raman spectrometer

2016

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“…Observation of the interaction of light with matter provides us with a host of tools to promote research, security, safety, and health. These optical tools include the detection of harmful or explosive materials (1)(2)(3), the remote detection of chemicals from a distance (4), the optical diagnosis of colloidal suspensions for genomics and drug delivery (5), and even the use of lasers for defense (6). Remote sensing techniques (7) allow us to image/detect structures through the atmosphere or ocean.…”

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confidence: 99%

Enhanced coupling of light into a turbid medium through microscopic interface engineering

Thompson

Hokr

Kim

et al. 2017

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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There are many optical detection and sensing methods used today that provide powerful ways to diagnose, characterize, and study materials. For example, the measurement of spontaneous Raman scattering allows for remote detection and identification of chemicals. Many other optical techniques provide unique solutions to learn about biological, chemical, and even structural systems. However, when these systems exist in a highly scattering or turbid medium, the optical scattering effects reduce the effectiveness of these methods. In this article, we demonstrate a method to engineer the geometry of the optical interface of a turbid medium, thereby drastically enhancing the coupling efficiency of light into the material. This enhanced optical coupling means that light incident on the material will penetrate deeper into (and through) the medium. It also means that light thus injected into the material will have an enhanced interaction time with particles contained within the material. These results show that, by using the multiple scattering of light in a turbid medium, enhanced light-matter interaction can be achieved; this has a direct impact on spectroscopic methods such as Raman scattering and fluorescence detection in highly scattering regimes. Furthermore, the enhanced penetration depth achieved by this method will directly impact optical techniques that have previously been limited by the inability to deposit sufficient amounts of optical energy below or through highly scattering layers.turbid media | enhanced transmittance | optical coupling | optical scattering | spectroscopy O ptical detection and spectroscopy has drastically changed the way we look at and measure the world today. Observation of the interaction of light with matter provides us with a host of tools to promote research, security, safety, and health. These optical tools include the detection of harmful or explosive materials (1-3), the remote detection of chemicals from a distance (4), the optical diagnosis of colloidal suspensions for genomics and drug delivery (5), and even the use of lasers for defense (6). Remote sensing techniques (7) allow us to image/detect structures through the atmosphere or ocean. Optical methods are also an integral part of biomedical research, diagnosis (8), and treatment (9) of many of today's most prevalent illnesses (10). However, the sensitivity and usefulness of any optical method is severely limited by the occurrence of optical scattering. This limitation is further amplified when the density of scatterers is high enough for multiple scattering to occur. In this article, we show that modification of the geometry of the optical interface significantly improves the coupling efficiency of light into a highly scattering medium, thereby reducing the detrimental effects of scattering. This enhanced coupling is evident through the observation of increased spatial diffusion, two orders of magnitude greater transmission, and over an order of magnitude greater interaction time of light within the material. This translates...

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“…Similarly, the advent of synthetic narcotics has led to a rapidly increasing list of illicit compounds and the subsequent demand on law enforcement and canine units. The detection of vapors and aerosols has been demonstrated with a wide range of analytical methods [1], including colorimetric [2, 3] and fluorescence [4] detection schemes, novel nanomaterial sensors [5, 6], as well as more classical analytical techniques such as Raman spectroscopy [7], ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) and differential mobility spectrometry [8, 9], and mass spectrometry (MS) [10-13]. …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enhanced aerodynamic reach of vapor and aerosol sampling for real-time mass spectrometric detection using Venturi-assisted entrainment and ionization

Forbes

Staymates

2017

Analytica Chimica Acta

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Venturi-assisted ENTrainment and Ionization (VENTI) was developed, demonstrating efficient entrainment, collection, and transport of remotely sampled vapors, aerosols, and dust particulate for real-time mass spectrometry (MS) detection. Integrating the Venturi and Coandă effects at multiple locations generated flow and analyte transport from non-proximate locations and more importantly enhanced the aerodynamic reach at the point of collection. Transport through remote sampling probes up to 2.5 m in length was achieved with residence times on the order of 10-2 s to 10-1 s and Reynolds numbers on the order of 103 to 104. The Venturi-assisted entrainment successfully enhanced vapor collection and detection by greater than an order of magnitude at 20 cm stand-off (limit of simple suction). This enhancement is imperative, as simple suction restricts sampling to the immediate vicinity, requiring close proximity to the vapor source. In addition, the overall aerodynamic reach distance was increased by approximately 3-fold over simple suction under the investigated conditions. Enhanced aerodynamic reach was corroborated and observed with laser-light sheet flow visualization and schlieren imaging. Coupled with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI), the detection of a range of volatile chemical vapors; explosive vapors; explosive, narcotic, and mustard gas surrogate (methyl salicylate) aerosols; and explosive dust particulate was demonstrated. Continuous real-time Venturi-assisted monitoring of a large room (approximately 90 m2 area, 570 m3 volume) was demonstrated for a 60-minute period without the remote sampling probe, exhibiting detection of chemical vapors and methyl salicylate at approximately 3 m stand-off distances within 2 minutes of exposure.

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Unambiguous detection of nitrated explosive vapours by fluorescence quenching of dendrimer films

Cited by 88 publications

References 35 publications

A positively charged silver nanowire membrane for rapid on-site swabbing extraction and detection of trace inorganic explosives using a portable Raman spectrometer

A positively charged silver nanowire membrane for rapid on-site swabbing extraction and detection of trace inorganic explosives using a portable Raman spectrometer

Enhanced coupling of light into a turbid medium through microscopic interface engineering

Enhanced aerodynamic reach of vapor and aerosol sampling for real-time mass spectrometric detection using Venturi-assisted entrainment and ionization

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