Study of a QCM Dimethyl Methylphosphonate Sensor Based on a ZnO-Modified Nanowire-Structured Manganese Dioxide Film

Abstract

Sensitive, selective and fast detection of chemical warfare agents is necessary for anti-terrorism purposes. In our search for functional materials sensitive to dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP), a simulant of sarin and other toxic organophosphorus compounds, we found that zinc oxide (ZnO) modification potentially enhances the absorption of DMMP on a manganese dioxide (MnO2) surface. The adsorption behavior of DMMP was evaluated through the detection of tiny organophosphonate compounds with quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) sensors coated with ZnO-modified MnO2 nanofibers and pure MnO2 nanofibers. Experimental results indicated that the QCM sensor coated with ZnO-modified nanostructured MnO2 film exhibited much higher sensitivity and better selectivity in comparison with the one coated with pure MnO2 nanofiber film. Therefore, the DMMP sensor developed with this composite nanostructured material should possess excellent selectivity and reasonable sensitivity towards the tiny gaseous DMMP species.

Concanavalin A–Polysaccharides binding affinity analysis using a quartz crystal microbalance

“…QCMs have been proven to be reliable in the field of electrochemistry (Paulo Tde et al, 2013; Sun et al, 2013a, 2013b), in petroleum characterization (Pejcic et al, 2011; Ueyama et al, 2002), in environmental chemistry (Nicolini et al, 2012), material science (Pei et al, 2010) and more interestingly in the development of biosensors (Bouchet-Spinelli et al, 2013; Eom et al, 2013; Guntupalli et al, 2013; Wangchareansak et al, 2013) which are valuable for disease diagnosis. QCMs also found a great interest in the monitoring of the affinity constants defining a given substrate-ligand interaction (Lebed et al, 2006; Li et al, 2013; Mori et al, 2009; Tan et al, 2013).…”

Nerve Gas Simulant Sensing by a Uranyl–Salen Monolayer Covalently Anchored on Quartz Substrates

“…[45] Also, attenuated total reflectance (ATR) IR spectroscopy has been applied to as tudy of the interactions of DMMP with amorphous a-SiO 2 grown by plasma oxidation of Si, on Al 2 O 3 , and on AlOÀ(OH) surfaces as af unction of the relative humidity. [47] Acidic polymers for surface acoustic wave sensorsa nd inverse gas chromatography of DMMP were recently developed. [47] Acidic polymers for surface acoustic wave sensorsa nd inverse gas chromatography of DMMP were recently developed.…”

“…[46] Additionally,acompositen anostructured film comprised of MnO 2 nanofibers modified with ZnO was prepared on aq uartzc rystal microbalance for nerve-gas sensing. [47] Acidic polymers for surface acoustic wave sensorsa nd inverse gas chromatography of DMMP were recently developed. [48,49] The supramolecular approach, even if it is lessu sed, [50] gives alternative pathways to detect this class of CWAs.…”

Electrospun Nanofiber-Based Sensors

“…11.2d). Pei et al [52] utilized ZnO-modified MnO 2 nanofiber-coated QCM sensor to detect the tiny dimethyl methylphosphonate which is a significant environmental and food chain pollutant. The experimental data revealed that the sensor could detect 35 ppb of DMMP in 300 s and possessed good selectivity and reversibility.…”