Detection of TNT and Picric Acid on Surfaces and in Seawater by using Photoluminescent Polysiloles. With H. Sohn, R. Calhoun, and M. J. Sailor. Angewandte Chemie, Int. Ed. 40, 2104 (2001)

Description:

The image demonstrates how silicon polymer nanowires can detect trace amounts of explosives. The polymer was sprayed onto paper, which glows green in ultraviolet light. Luminescence is quenched where a TNT-contaminated hand touched the paper. 

The image is of a gloved hand imprint on paper, which was contaminated by less than one nanogram of TNT. The image was developed by spraying ~60 µg of poly(tetraphenyl)silole and viewing the luminescence under long wave UV irradiation. TNT prevents luminescence of the polysilole by electron transfer quenching, which yields a negative image where traces of TNT were present on the paper.

 

 Previous Day/Next Day

Please contact the webmaster if you would like to submit an image