The
sensitive and selective determination of peroxide-based explosives
(PBEs) in the field/on site is an important analytical challenge.
Most methods claiming to detect PBEs are indirect, actually detecting
their decomposition product, H2O2. Here, we
present an electrochemical sensor for direct detection of organic
peroxide explosives, that is, triacetone triperoxide (TATP) and hexamethylenetriperoxide
diamine (HMTD), using well-dispersed multiwalled carbon nanotubes/polyethyleneimine
(MWCNTs/PEI)-modified glassy carbon (GC) electrode, namely, GC/MWCNTs/PEI
electrode. This is the first use of the conductive polyelectrolyte
PEI as an electrode modifier for pristine PBE sensing. The potential
range, scan rate, solvent selection, and supporting electrolyte concentration
were optimized for PBEs. As a distinct advantage over other similar
methods, our sensor electrode responded to intact TATP solutions in
neutral medium, meaning that TATP did not interact with acids/bases
that would transform it into H2O2. Calibration
curves were linear in the range of 10–200 mg L–1 for TATP and 25–200 mg L–1 for HMTD. Using
differential pulse voltammetry, detection limits of 1.5 mg L–1 TATP and 3.0 mg L–1 HMTD were obtained from direct
electrochemical reduction in 80/20% (v/v) H2O–acetone
solvent medium. Electroactive camouflage materials such as passenger
belongings (e.g., sweetener, detergent, sugar, and paracetamol–caffeine-based
analgesic drugs), common ions, and other explosives were shown not
to interfere with the proposed method. The nonresponsive behavior
of our electrode to H2O2 prevents “false
positives” from other peroxide materials of everyday use. This
electrochemical sensor could also detect other nitro-explosives at
different potentials and was statistically validated against standard
GC–MS and spectrophotometric methods.