Portable sensor can detect explosives in real time

Scientists have developed a compact and portable sensor that detects explosives like DNT and TNT in real time, and can be used to monitor public spaces to counter terrorism.

Nitroaromatic explosives like DNT, TNT and TNP pose a serious threat to civilian and military safety. These chemicals are also recognised as toxic contaminants that pollute the environment.

The device, described in the the journal Scientific Reports, paves the way for light weight and compact explosive sensor for field use as well as for environmental monitoring.

Large scale use of explosives in the terror activities triggered the scientists at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee to work on novel sensing materials for detection of such explosives.

The team, which included Binoy Maiti and Priyadarsi De from Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Kolkata, developed the sensor by using a technique based on fluorescence spectroscopy.

When explosives come into contact with the newly synthesised polymer, the colour of the polymer changes, which can be seen with the naked eye.

"This polymer can detect the explosive class of compounds, known as nitroaromatics, in both solution and vapour phase," Soumitra Satapathi, an Assistant Professor