Improved polymer equipment can smell explosives and bombs

Researchers have successfully developed innovative polymer devices that detect small amounts of explosive vapors. This work is described in the sheet

Polymer molecules (photo: greenfacts)

"Nature" (May 14, 2005), which could lead to the development of super-sensitive sensors that detect explosives and bombs.

The inventors included Aimee Rose and colleagues at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA), using synthetic materials commonly known as semiconductor (SOP) polymers in their designs. When exposed to laser light, the type of compound produces a separate ' light ' , a process called lasing. The explosive molecules such as TNT (trinitrotoleune) lack electrons, so they are attracted to electron-rich polymers. When they stick to the surface, they interfere with the process of laser light production, resulting in a reduction in the light output of the SOP. By measuring changes in laser light, scientists can easily detect TNT with concentrations less than 5 parts per billion.

This group also successfully identified DNT (dintrotoluene) at 100 parts per billion in just 1 second. SOP was used to locate anti-personnel mines. However, the new device for sensitivity (with explosive vapor) is 30 times higher than the older and more accurate 98%

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