EXP-SA Colorimetric Sensors for the Detection of Explosive Materials

University Of Texas At Austin, Austin TX

Investigators

Abstract

TITLE: EXP-SA Colorimetric Sensors for the Detection of Explosive Materials PI name: Jonathan Sessler Institution: University of Texas at Austin Proposal Number: 0730053 This research will develop new tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) -functionalized calixpyrroles and related systems as colorimetric sensors for explosive materials found in many improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The work addresses receptor chemistry and is not bound by a specific sensor platform. The "switch on" sensing is an improvement over quenching sensors and should lead to improvements in background discrimination. The electronic properties of the TTF-calixpyrrole scaffold will be varied, and the effects of such variations on substrate binding and the direct color change will be investigated. In addition, the design and synthesis of 'tripod' type receptor systems based on functionalized trispyrazole complexes and 1,3,5-benzene scaffolds are proposed.