EXP-SA: Nanofibril Films for Dual-Sensing Explosives Detection

Southern Illinois University At Carbondale, Carbondale IL

Investigators

Abstract

TITLE: EXP-SA: Nanofibril Films for Dual-Sensing Explosives Detection PI name: Ling Zang Institution: Southern Illinois University at Carbondale Proposal Number: 0730667 This research will build upon unique molecular assembly techniques pioneered in the PIs' laboratories. By controlling the nanoscale morphology of fluorescent materials, they have demonstrated efficient vapor phase explosives detection that is independent of film thickness. By modifying the molecular structure and improving fabrication of the assembled arylene-ethynylene macrocycles (AREs), they can optimize the fluorescent quenching-based sensory response. An alternative transduction mechanism is also proposed which relies on measuring conductivity changes in the materials.