Recent Developments in the Field of Explosive Trace Detection

Abstract

Explosive trace detection (ETD) technologies play a vital role in maintaining national security. ETD remains an active research area with many analytical techniques in operational use. This review details the latest advances in animal olfactory, ion mobility spectrometry (IMS), Raman and colorimetric detection methods. Developments in optical, biological, electrochemical, mass and thermal sensors are also covered in addition to the use of nanomaterials technology. Commercially available systems are presented as examples of current detection capabilities and as benchmarks for improvement. Attention is also drawn to recent collaborative projects involving government, academia and industry, to highlight the emergence of multimodal screening approaches and applications. The objective of the review is to provide a comprehensive overview of ETD by; highlighting challenges in ETD and providing an understanding of the principles, advantages and limitations of each technology and relating this to current systems.

On‐Site Detection for Hazardous Materials in Chemical Accidents

“…Explosives not only play a vital role in industrial processing and construction but also remain a threat to national security. Recently, many researchers have focused on the development of the analytical technologies for trace explosive detection of specific gases, which impact harmfully to humans or environmentally toxic 55 . Graphene‐based sensors were demonstrated that platforms were designed to incorporate pristine graphene, graphene oxide, and nanopatterned graphene, which showed excellent potential in the explosive trace detection 94 .…”

“…Applications of the nanomaterials‐based nanosensor platforms toward on‐site detection of hazardous materials in chemical accident. Reproduced with permission 55 …”

Detection of Explosives by SERS Platform Using Metal Nanogap Substrates

“…Kneipp reported SERS spectra from TNT on colloidal silver and gold particles for the first time in 1995 [ 19 ]. Since then, several commercially available SERS substrates as well as custom-made substrates have been used for the purpose of explosives detection [ 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 ]. Klarite substrates, composed of an array of inverted pyramidal-shaped pits etched into silicon, are the most well-characterized commercial substrate for SERS [ 25 ].…”

“…Though very sensitive, serious problems with SERS signals are stability, reproducibility, and insufficient performance during practical applications, which may be due to the weak interaction between molecules and sensing substrates [ 24 , 33 , 34 ]. Recently, we have reported highly sensitive and uniform SERS substrates fabricated through simple processes of e-beam evaporation, rapid thermal annealing, and wet chemical etching [ 35 ].…”

The Effect of Auxiliary Nitrogenated Linkers on the Design of New Cadmium‐Based Coordination Polymers as Sensors for the Detection of Explosive Materials

“…Apart from the environmental andh umanitarian implications that are generated by the presence of landmines aroundt he world, the recentu psurge of terrorism has made the rapid, selective, and sensitived etection of explosives critical in border controla nd homelandsecurity. [19] Variationso f the luminescent properties of linear and porous organic polymers in the presenceo ft he analytes have been extensively used to detecte xplosive compounds such as electron-deficient nitroaromatics (NACs). [20][21][22][23][24] Comparatively,c oordination polymers have been much less investigated in this area.…”