NiO Microflower-Based Conductometric Sensor for Selective Detection of Trace Level TATP

The trace level detection of explosive analytes is vital for the safety of human being, society, and country. This letter describes the development of a micro flower-like NiO based conductometric sensor for trace level detection of triacetone triperoxide (TATP) as explosive signature. NiO sensing layer drop caste over flexible polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate-based gold interdigitated electrodes (IDEs) for sensing measurements. The sensor device exhibits a response of 4.6 upon exposure of 100 ppm TATP with fast response and recovery times of 3 s. Experimentally TATP was detected in the concentration range of 0.1 to 100 ppm, while theoretically limit of detection (LOD) was calculated as 9 ppt. The interaction between TATP and NiO is explained on the basis of Lewis acid-base mechanism with charge transfer. The work has a potential for trace level and fast detection of TATP in security, and defense application.