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Rapid Detection of Explosives

Detailed Technology Description

UC San Diego researchers have developed a simple, fast, and inexpensive sensor to detect trace amounts of explosives. A silicon polymer has been made into a "nanowire," 2000 times thinner than a human hair, that detects compounds such as picric acid, nitrobenzene (NB), dinitrotoluene (DNT) and trinitrotoluene (TNT) in air or seawater, or on surfaces. The sensor uses a thin film of photoluminescent polysilole that can also be sprayed on solid surfaces such as filter paper. Wherever the polymer comes into contact with molecules of explosive material, the fluorescent signal is quenched. This polysilole is stable in air, water, acids, common organic solvents and seawater-containing bioorganisms. TNT vapor in air is detected to 4 ppb (parts per billion) within 10 minutes; in sea water 50 ppb TNT and 6 ppb Picric Acid can be detected. Picric Acid is a substance commonly used in letter bombs. A hand or object that has been in contact with even tiny amounts of TNT may be readily imaged by pressing it to a piece of paper, spraying the paper with a 0.1 M toluene solution of the polymer, and observing the paper with the naked eye under a black light.

Supplementary Information

Patent Number: US7482168B2
Application Number: US2002244053A
Inventor: Sailor, Michael J. | Trogler, William C | Sohn, Honglae | Calhoun, Rebecca M.
Priority Date: 15 Sep 2001
Priority Number: US7482168B2
Application Date: 14 Sep 2002
Publication Date: 27 Jan 2009
IPC Current: G01N003300 | G01N002164 | G01N002176 | G01N003322 | G01N003122
US Class: 436172 | 436106
Assignee Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
Title: Photoluminescent polymetalloles as chemical sensors
Usefulness: Photoluminescent polymetalloles as chemical sensors
Summary: The invention is used for detecting electron deficient molecules such as an explosive, e.g. nitrobenzene, 2,4-dinitrotoluene, trinitrotoluene, or picric acid, in air, water, or other surfaces (claimed).
Novelty: Detecting electron deficient molecules, e.g. trinitrotoluene in air, water, or other surfaces, involves placing photoluminescent polymetalloles into quartz flow cell containing analytes, and measuring quenching against standard

Industry

Chemical/Material

Sub Category

Chemical/Material Application

Application No.

7482168

Others

State Of Development

This technology has myriad applications in forensic science, law enforcement and the military. In addition, it could be used to map pollution from munitions manufacturing and storage and to locate unexploded land or sea mines to facilitate their removal.

Related Materials

• http://www-chem.ucsd.edu/Faculty/bios/trogler.html
• http://chem-faculty.ucsd.edu/sailor/research
• See also SD2003-020 and SD2005-268.

Tech ID/UC Case

19690/2000-160-0

Related Cases

2000-160-0

*Abstract

None

*IP Issue Date

Jan 27, 2009

*Principal Investigator

Name: Rebecca Calhoun

Department:

Name: Michael Sailor

Department:

Name: Honglae Sohn

Department:

Name: William Trogler

Department:

Country/Region

USA