We report recent progress toward the development of infrared point sensors for the detection of chemical warfare agents and explosive related chemicals, which pose a significant threat to both health and environment. Technical objectives have focused on the development of polymer sorbents to enhance the infrared response of these hazardous organic compounds. For example, infrared point sensors which part-per-billion detection limits have been developed that rapidlypartition chemical warfare agents and explosive related chemicals into polymer thin films with desirable chemical and physical properties. These chemical sensors demonstrate novel routes to reversible sensing of hazardous organic compounds. The development of small, low-power, sensitive, and selective instruments employing these chemical sensors would enhance the capabilities of federal, state, and local emergency response to incidents involving chemical terrorism. Specific applications include chemical defense systems for military personnel and homeland defense, environmental monitors for remediation and demilitarization, and point source detectors for emergency and maintenance response teams.
We report on progress toward development of mid-infrared spectroscopic chemical sensors for explosive related chemicals (ERCs) associated with land mines, particularly 1,3-dinitrobenzene (DNB) and 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT). Our goal is to develop a fast, reversible and sensitive device for mobile, real-time detection of ERCs. Fiber waveguide sensors are fabricated by coating thin polymer films onto a mid-IR transmissive chalcogenide fiber. ERCs partition into the polymer film where they absorb IR radiation at characteristic wavelengths in the evanescent wave region near the fiber-polymer interface. A wide variety of polymers possessing potentially desirable physical and chemical properties for ERC detection have been characterized. We have demonstrated reversible detection of DNB and DNT at low concentrations in air using a dynamic gas flow system.
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