Title
A pre-concentrator for explosive vapor detection
Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Date of Original Version
1-1-2015
Abstract
A pre-concentrator was developed for a vapor detection system to improve its response when continuously monitoring trace levels of explosives. The pre-concentrator employs an additional polymer coated microheater upstream from the active sensor element, allowing the delivery of a concentrated burst of analyte to the detector. And has resulted in a lower detection limit for both nitrogen and non-nitrogen based explosives. Further improvements in sensor response were realized by using zinc oxide nanowires as a catalyst and/or a catalyst support. The increased surface area available for catalytic interaction and the pre-concentration step have lowered the detection limit of explosives such as TATP and 2, 6-DNT by orders of magnitude.
Publication Title, e.g., Journal
ECS Transactions
Volume
66
Issue
38
Citation/Publisher Attribution
Caron, Z., D. Mallin, M. Champlin, and O. J. Gregory. "A pre-concentrator for explosive vapor detection." ECS Transactions 66, 38 (2015): 59-64. doi: 10.1149/06638.0059ecst.