 Vapour detection using polymers: Sniffing out explosives
Researchers have developed a novel polymer device that can pick up trace amounts of explosive vapours. Luminescent polymers could be used as sensors for trinitrotoluene (TNT), an explosive often used in bombs. When a molecule of an explosive, such as TNT, binds to a polymer it can 'turn off' the luminescence of the polymer. This change can be used to sense very low concentrations of explosives. The amplifying properties of electronic polymers enable a number of new methods for explosive detection, the most significant of which is ultra-trace vapour detection of low volatility materials. Read on to know how polymers are now delivering new capabilities for military and homeland security.
About the authors:
Prof N R Bhalerao, Prof P V Thorat, Prof S N Nemade and Prof N G Deshmukh are from Department of Polymer Technology, College of Engineering & Technology, Akola, Maharashtra.
Email: namarata_bhalerao@rediffmail.com
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