A low-cost, portable optical explosive-vapour sensor

Ross N. Gillanders; Ifor D. W. Samuel; Graham A. Turnbull

doi:10.1016/j.snb.2017.01.178

A low-cost, portable optical explosive-vapour sensor

Ross N. Gillanders, Ifor D. W. Samuel, Graham A. Turnbull

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

Abstract

Humanitarian demining requires a broad range of methodologies
and instrumentation for reliable identification of landmines,
antipersonnel mines, and other explosive remnants of war (ERWs). Optical
sensing methods are ideal for this purpose due to advantages in
sensitivity, time-of-response and small form factor. In this work we
present a portable photoluminescence-based sensor for nitroaromatic
vapours based on the conjugated polymer Super Yellow integrated into an
instrument comprising an excitation LED, photodiode, Arduino
microprocessor and pumping mechanics for vapour delivery. The instrument
was shown to be sensitive to few-ppb concentrations of explosive vapours
under laboratory conditions, and responds to simulated buried landmine
vapour. The results indicate that a lightweight, easy-to-operate, lowcost
and highly-sensitive optical sensor can be readily constructed for
landmine and ERW detection in the field, with potential to aid worldwide
efforts in landmine mitigation.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	334-340
Journal	Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical
Volume	245
Early online date	30 Jan 2017
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2017.01.178
Publication status	Published - Jun 2017

Keywords

Explosives detection
Super Yellow
Arduino
Photoluminescence
ERW
Humanitarian Demining

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10.1016/j.snb.2017.01.178

Gillanders_2017_SABC_Explosive-vapourSensor_AAM
© 2017, Elsevier. This work has been made available online in accordance with the publisher’s policies. This is the author created, accepted version manuscript following peer review and may differ slightly from the final published version. The final published version of this work is available at www.sciencedirect.com / http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2017.01.178
Accepted author manuscript, 562 KB

Organic Optoelectronics: Organic Semiconductor Optoelectronics: Challenges and Opportunities
Samuel, I. D. W. (PI)
The Royal Society
1/08/13 → 31/07/18
Project: Standard
TIRAMISU: EU FP7 Collab. TIRAMISU FW7 Security
Turnbull, G. (PI)
European Commission
1/05/12 → 31/12/15
Project: Standard

A Low-Cost, Portable Optical Explosive-vapour Sensor (dataset)
Gillanders, R. (Creator), Samuel, I. D. W. (Contributor) & Turnbull, G. A. (Contributor), University of St Andrews, 31 Jan 2017
DOI: 10.17630/5868c89a-7019-4897-9c54-24ccc551a6e6
Dataset

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title = "A low-cost, portable optical explosive-vapour sensor",

abstract = "Humanitarian demining requires a broad range of methodologiesand instrumentation for reliable identification of landmines,antipersonnel mines, and other explosive remnants of war (ERWs). Opticalsensing methods are ideal for this purpose due to advantages insensitivity, time-of-response and small form factor. In this work wepresent a portable photoluminescence-based sensor for nitroaromaticvapours based on the conjugated polymer Super Yellow integrated into aninstrument comprising an excitation LED, photodiode, Arduinomicroprocessor and pumping mechanics for vapour delivery. The instrumentwas shown to be sensitive to few-ppb concentrations of explosive vapoursunder laboratory conditions, and responds to simulated buried landminevapour. The results indicate that a lightweight, easy-to-operate, lowcostand highly-sensitive optical sensor can be readily constructed forlandmine and ERW detection in the field, with potential to aid worldwideefforts in landmine mitigation.",

keywords = "Explosives detection , Super Yellow, Arduino, Photoluminescence, ERW, Humanitarian Demining",

author = "Gillanders, {Ross N.} and Samuel, {Ifor D. W.} and Turnbull, {Graham A.}",

note = "This project has received funding from the European Union{\textquoteright}s Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration under agreement no 284747. IDWS acknowledges a Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Award. Data supporting this research can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.17630/5868c89a-7019-4897-9c54-24ccc551a6e6.",

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AU - Turnbull, Graham A.

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N2 - Humanitarian demining requires a broad range of methodologiesand instrumentation for reliable identification of landmines,antipersonnel mines, and other explosive remnants of war (ERWs). Opticalsensing methods are ideal for this purpose due to advantages insensitivity, time-of-response and small form factor. In this work wepresent a portable photoluminescence-based sensor for nitroaromaticvapours based on the conjugated polymer Super Yellow integrated into aninstrument comprising an excitation LED, photodiode, Arduinomicroprocessor and pumping mechanics for vapour delivery. The instrumentwas shown to be sensitive to few-ppb concentrations of explosive vapoursunder laboratory conditions, and responds to simulated buried landminevapour. The results indicate that a lightweight, easy-to-operate, lowcostand highly-sensitive optical sensor can be readily constructed forlandmine and ERW detection in the field, with potential to aid worldwideefforts in landmine mitigation.

AB - Humanitarian demining requires a broad range of methodologiesand instrumentation for reliable identification of landmines,antipersonnel mines, and other explosive remnants of war (ERWs). Opticalsensing methods are ideal for this purpose due to advantages insensitivity, time-of-response and small form factor. In this work wepresent a portable photoluminescence-based sensor for nitroaromaticvapours based on the conjugated polymer Super Yellow integrated into aninstrument comprising an excitation LED, photodiode, Arduinomicroprocessor and pumping mechanics for vapour delivery. The instrumentwas shown to be sensitive to few-ppb concentrations of explosive vapoursunder laboratory conditions, and responds to simulated buried landminevapour. The results indicate that a lightweight, easy-to-operate, lowcostand highly-sensitive optical sensor can be readily constructed forlandmine and ERW detection in the field, with potential to aid worldwideefforts in landmine mitigation.

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DO - 10.1016/j.snb.2017.01.178

M3 - Article

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EP - 340

JO - Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical

JF - Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical

ER -

A low-cost, portable optical explosive-vapour sensor

Abstract

Keywords

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Projects

Organic Optoelectronics: Organic Semiconductor Optoelectronics: Challenges and Opportunities

TIRAMISU: EU FP7 Collab. TIRAMISU FW7 Security

Datasets

A Low-Cost, Portable Optical Explosive-vapour Sensor (dataset)

Cite this