The groundbreaking nanotechnology-inspired
sensor, devised by Prof. Fernando Patolsky of Tel Aviv University's School of
Chemistry and Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, and developed by the
Herzliya company Tracense, picks up the scent of explosives molecules better
than a detection dog's nose. Research on the sensor was recently published in
the journal Nature Communications.
Existing explosives sensors are expensive, bulky
and require expert interpretation of the findings. In contrast, the new sensor
is mobile, inexpensive, and identifies in real time -- and with great accuracy
-- explosives in the air at concentrations as low as a few molecules per 1,000
trillion.
nanosensor |
A nano-nose to compete with a dog's
"Using a single tiny chip that consists of
hundreds of supersensitive sensors, we can detect ultra low traces of extremely
volatile explosives in air samples, and clearly fingerprint and differentiate
them from other non-hazardous materials," said Prof. Patolsky, a top
researcher in the field of nanotechnology. "In real time, it detects small
molecular species in air down to concentrations of parts-per-quadrillion, which
is four to five orders of magnitude more sensitive than any existing technological
method, and two to three orders of magnitude more sensitive than a dog's nose.
"This chip can also detect improvised
explosives, such as TATP (triacetone triperoxide), used in suicide bombing
attacks in Israel and abroad," Prof. Patolsky added.
The clusters of nano-sized transistors used in
the prototype are extremely sensitive to chemicals, which cause changes in the
electrical conductance of the sensors upon surface contact. When just a single
molecule of an explosive comes into contact with the sensors, it binds with
them, triggering a rapid and accurate mathematical analysis of the material.
"Animals are influenced by mood, weather,
state of health and working hours, the oversaturation of olfactory system, and
much more," said Prof. Patolsky. "They also cannot tell us what they
smell. Automatic sensing systems are superior candidates to dogs, working at
least as well or better than nature. This is not an easy task, but was achieved
through the development of novel technologies such as our sensor."
A technology for a safer world
The trace detector, still in prototype,
identifies several different types of explosives several meters from the source
in real time. It has been tested on the explosives TNT, RDX, and HMX, used in
commercial blasting and military applications, as well as peroxide-based
explosives like TATP and HMTD. The latter are commonly used in homemade bombs
and are very difficult to detect using existing technology.
"Our breakthrough has the potential to
change the way hazardous materials are detected, and of course should provide
populations with more security," said Prof. Patolsky. "The faster,
more sensitive detection of tiny amounts of explosives in the air will provide
for a better and safer world."
Tracense has invested over $10M in research and
development of the device since 2007, and expects to go to market next year.
Prof.Patolsky and his team of researchers are currently performing multiple and
extensive field tests of prototype devices of the sensor.
Source: science daily, www.aftau.org/nano
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