ExplosivesResearchers develop glow in the dark explosive detectors

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developednew explosives and chemical detectors that glow when dangerous substances are present.

The new technique combines fluorescent molecules with an open scaffolding system called a metal organic framework that provides space for molecules from dangerous substances to interact with the fluorescent molecules.

Mircea Dincă, an assistant professor of chemistry at MIT and the lead researcher, said this new sensor technique is particularly useful as results can be read with a quick glance.

“A lot of known sensors work in reverse,” Dincă explained, with most “turning off” when they detect a target substance. “Turn-on sensors are better,” he said, because “they’re easier to detect, the contrast is better.”

“Present materials generally function via luminescence quenching,” and thus “suffer from reduced detection sensitivity and selectivity,” echoed Mark Allendorf, a research fellow at Sandia National Laboratory. “Turn-on detection would address these limitations and be a considerable advance.”

As an example, Allendorf pointed to a fluorescent detector designed for carbon dioxide. “The more gas you have, the more intensity in the response,” making the device’s readout more obvious, he said.

In addition, the molecules are so sensitive they can even detect changes in the viscosity of liquid like blood.

The research was made possible thanks to funding from MIT’s Center for Excitonics, which is supported by the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy.