Super-hydrophobic "smart" sand for buried explosive detection

Xiangcheng Sun; Yixin Liu; Srilaya Mopidevi; Yongtao Meng; Fei Huang; Joseph Parisi; Mu Ping Nieh; Chris Cornelius; Steven L. Suib; Yu Lei

doi:10.1016/j.snb.2013.12.095

Super-hydrophobic "smart" sand for buried explosive detection

Xiangcheng Sun, Yixin Liu, Srilaya Mopidevi, Yongtao Meng, Fei Huang, Joseph Parisi, Mu Ping Nieh, Chris Cornelius, Steven L. Suib, Yu Lei

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

Explosive-sensitive fluorescent sand ("smart" sand) was prepared through the simple coating of polystyrene/pyrene/TBAHP composite on normal sand. The as-prepared "smart" sand was characterized using SEM, EDS, XRD, FT-IR, Raman, and UV-Vis. Further analysis of contact angle and fluorescence emission spectra confirm that the explosive-sensitive fluorescent composite film coats on the surface of the sand, endowing "smart" sand both strong fluorescence and super-hydrophobicity, which provides an excellent sensing material for buried nitroaromatic explosive sensing, presumably due to its strong affinity with nitroaromatic explosive vapor. The detection of buried explosives in soil was achieved and validated through quenched spots on a thin layer of "smart" sand paved on the top of soil. The quenched area and decreased intensity vary with the amounts and depths of 2,4-DNT buried in soils. Such detection can be performed using a handheld UV lamp and observed by naked eyes, thus providing great potential and advantage for large-scale landmine detection and mapping.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	52-57
Number of pages	6
Journal	Sensors and Actuators, B: Chemical
Volume	195
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2013.12.095
State	Published - May 2014

Keywords

"Smart" sand
Buried explosive
Fluorescence
Polystrene
Pyrene
Quenching
Sensing

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
Instrumentation
Condensed Matter Physics
Surfaces, Coatings and Films
Metals and Alloys
Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Materials Chemistry

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10.1016/j.snb.2013.12.095

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title = "Super-hydrophobic {"}smart{"} sand for buried explosive detection",

abstract = "Explosive-sensitive fluorescent sand ({"}smart{"} sand) was prepared through the simple coating of polystyrene/pyrene/TBAHP composite on normal sand. The as-prepared {"}smart{"} sand was characterized using SEM, EDS, XRD, FT-IR, Raman, and UV-Vis. Further analysis of contact angle and fluorescence emission spectra confirm that the explosive-sensitive fluorescent composite film coats on the surface of the sand, endowing {"}smart{"} sand both strong fluorescence and super-hydrophobicity, which provides an excellent sensing material for buried nitroaromatic explosive sensing, presumably due to its strong affinity with nitroaromatic explosive vapor. The detection of buried explosives in soil was achieved and validated through quenched spots on a thin layer of {"}smart{"} sand paved on the top of soil. The quenched area and decreased intensity vary with the amounts and depths of 2,4-DNT buried in soils. Such detection can be performed using a handheld UV lamp and observed by naked eyes, thus providing great potential and advantage for large-scale landmine detection and mapping.",

keywords = "{"}Smart{"} sand, Buried explosive, Fluorescence, Polystrene, Pyrene, Quenching, Sensing",

author = "Xiangcheng Sun and Yixin Liu and Srilaya Mopidevi and Yongtao Meng and Fei Huang and Joseph Parisi and Nieh, {Mu Ping} and Chris Cornelius and Suib, {Steven L.} and Yu Lei",

note = "Funding Information: X.C. Sun thanks Chris Silhavy for the help in the preparation of “smart” sand. We greatly appreciate the funding support from NSF and University of Connecticut Prototype Fund . ",

year = "2014",

month = may,

doi = "10.1016/j.snb.2013.12.095",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "195",

pages = "52--57",

journal = "Sensors and Actuators, B: Chemical",

issn = "0925-4005",

publisher = "Elsevier B.V.",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Super-hydrophobic "smart" sand for buried explosive detection

AU - Sun, Xiangcheng

AU - Liu, Yixin

AU - Mopidevi, Srilaya

AU - Meng, Yongtao

AU - Huang, Fei

AU - Parisi, Joseph

AU - Nieh, Mu Ping

AU - Cornelius, Chris

AU - Suib, Steven L.

AU - Lei, Yu

N1 - Funding Information: X.C. Sun thanks Chris Silhavy for the help in the preparation of “smart” sand. We greatly appreciate the funding support from NSF and University of Connecticut Prototype Fund .

PY - 2014/5

Y1 - 2014/5

N2 - Explosive-sensitive fluorescent sand ("smart" sand) was prepared through the simple coating of polystyrene/pyrene/TBAHP composite on normal sand. The as-prepared "smart" sand was characterized using SEM, EDS, XRD, FT-IR, Raman, and UV-Vis. Further analysis of contact angle and fluorescence emission spectra confirm that the explosive-sensitive fluorescent composite film coats on the surface of the sand, endowing "smart" sand both strong fluorescence and super-hydrophobicity, which provides an excellent sensing material for buried nitroaromatic explosive sensing, presumably due to its strong affinity with nitroaromatic explosive vapor. The detection of buried explosives in soil was achieved and validated through quenched spots on a thin layer of "smart" sand paved on the top of soil. The quenched area and decreased intensity vary with the amounts and depths of 2,4-DNT buried in soils. Such detection can be performed using a handheld UV lamp and observed by naked eyes, thus providing great potential and advantage for large-scale landmine detection and mapping.

AB - Explosive-sensitive fluorescent sand ("smart" sand) was prepared through the simple coating of polystyrene/pyrene/TBAHP composite on normal sand. The as-prepared "smart" sand was characterized using SEM, EDS, XRD, FT-IR, Raman, and UV-Vis. Further analysis of contact angle and fluorescence emission spectra confirm that the explosive-sensitive fluorescent composite film coats on the surface of the sand, endowing "smart" sand both strong fluorescence and super-hydrophobicity, which provides an excellent sensing material for buried nitroaromatic explosive sensing, presumably due to its strong affinity with nitroaromatic explosive vapor. The detection of buried explosives in soil was achieved and validated through quenched spots on a thin layer of "smart" sand paved on the top of soil. The quenched area and decreased intensity vary with the amounts and depths of 2,4-DNT buried in soils. Such detection can be performed using a handheld UV lamp and observed by naked eyes, thus providing great potential and advantage for large-scale landmine detection and mapping.

KW - "Smart" sand

KW - Buried explosive

KW - Fluorescence

KW - Polystrene

KW - Pyrene

KW - Quenching

KW - Sensing

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JO - Sensors and Actuators, B: Chemical

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ER -

Super-hydrophobic "smart" sand for buried explosive detection

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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