Substantial effort has been devoted to the synthesis of molecular receptors that can function as chemosensors for nitroaromatic explosives. In spite of several advantages, these receptors suffer from low sensitivity and difficulties translating the response into the gas phase. We have combined tetrathiafulvalene-functionalized calix[4]pyrrole, a colorimetric receptor, with a polyimide microcantilever, that includes a mechanical stress sensing element. The resulting system is capable of detecting 10 ppb trinitrobenzene vapor. This represents a 30-fold improvement relative to the receptor in halogenated solvents, suggesting that this approach can provide a solution to translating the chemical response of colorimetric chemosensors into practical devices.
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21 March 2011
Research Article|
March 22 2011
A colorimetric receptor combined with a microcantilever sensor for explosive vapor detection
Weibin Zhu;
Weibin Zhu
1
PicoCal, Inc.
, 333 Parkland Plaza, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48103, USA
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Jung Su Park;
Jung Su Park
2Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry,
The University of Texas at Austin
, 1 University Station, A5300, Austin, Texas 78712-0165, USA
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Jonathan L. Sessler;
Jonathan L. Sessler
2Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry,
The University of Texas at Austin
, 1 University Station, A5300, Austin, Texas 78712-0165, USA
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Angelo Gaitas
Angelo Gaitas
a)
1
PicoCal, Inc.
, 333 Parkland Plaza, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48103, USA
3
Delft University of Technology
, Mekelweg 4, 2628CD Delft, The Netherlands
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a)
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel.: 734-913-2608. Electronic mail: angelo@picocal.com.
Appl. Phys. Lett. 98, 123501 (2011)
Article history
Received:
January 03 2011
Accepted:
February 23 2011
Citation
Weibin Zhu, Jung Su Park, Jonathan L. Sessler, Angelo Gaitas; A colorimetric receptor combined with a microcantilever sensor for explosive vapor detection. Appl. Phys. Lett. 21 March 2011; 98 (12): 123501. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3567011
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