Tiny sensor quickly detects plastic explosives

24 September 2003 News Training & Education

ORNL of the US has developed a miniature sensor which could offer a low-cost method of detecting tiny amounts of airborne plastic explosives in seconds. It could soon be used by security teams in airports and public facilities. The microelectromechanical system (MEMS) consists of a 180 x 25 mm piece of silicon attached to a microcantilever. This cantilever - like a tiny diving board - is coated with gold, and then coated with an acid sensitive to PETN (pentaerythritol tetranitrate) and RDX (hexahydro-1,3,5-triazine). If these plastic explosives are present, the microcantilever moves and that motion is detected by a laser-microscope. It is claimed to be able to detect explosives at a level of 14 parts per trillion.

See www.ornl.gov

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