Highly Sensitive and Selective Optochemical Sensors Based on Organic-Inorganic Nanocomposite for Real-Time, Standoff Detection of Vehicle-Borne IEDs

We propose to study and develop a novel, highly sensitive and selective optochemical sensory system based on organic-inorganic nanocomposites for a real-time, standoff detection of vehicle-borne IEDs. The sensory part of the device will be composed of a mesoporous silicon microcavity (pore size of 20nm -100nm) filled with organic transducers (sensory emissive polymers or polymers blended with dyes) that are specific to analyte vapors. The unique nanodevice structure will provide a large surface interface between the sensory material and the analytes leading to the highest sensitivity, which is critical for the fast detection (dwell time is about of several tens seconds or even seconds) of low vapor pressure chemicals like many explosives. High selectivity will be provided by the precise positioning of the extremely narrow resonant peak (luminescence) and its intensity for each element of the sensor array. A sensor will be placed on the tip of the lightweight telescopic probe/console (length up to 20 m and longer) which can be mounted to HMMWV or other armor vehicles. Also, sensory head can be installed on the small robotic vehicle or mini unmanned plane (standoff distance is of 100 m) teleoperated from HMMWV. In Phase I, the proposed new concept should provide fabrication and preliminary test of novel nanocomposite sensory system with superior sensing properties to low volatility explosives. In Phase II, the system will be optimized (sensor array, MEMS format) to improve device performance and reduced its cost.