Thermal control of organic semiconductor films for explosives detection

Edward B. Ogugu; Ross N. Gillanders; Graham A. Turnbull

doi:10.1117/12.2621638

30 May 2022 Thermal control of organic semiconductor films for explosives detection

Edward B. Ogugu, Ross N. Gillanders, Graham A. Turnbull

Proceedings Volume PC12149, Organic Electronics and Photonics: Fundamentals and Devices III; PC121491D (2022) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2621638
Event: SPIE Photonics Europe, 2022, Strasbourg, France

Conference Poster

Abstract

Organic semiconductors have received increasing interest in sensing the explosive molecules emitted from landmines and improvised explosives devices (IEDs), especially when used as fluorescent sensors which are highly sensitive, easy to fabricate, and relatively cheaper when compared to other sensing technologies. Sensitivity down to ppb can be observed as quenching of photoexcited excitons in the fluorescent films, due to electron transfer from the excitons in the film to the nitroaromatic explosives molecules. However, for many organic fluorescent sensors, the quenching is irreversible or exhibits extremely slow reversibility due to strong binding interactions between the sensors and analytes, which imposes a limitation in terms of reusability. Here we present a study of the control of a fluorescent sensor’s temperature to overcome the binding interaction, and make the quenching reversible. Specifically, we study the thermal release of 2,4-DNT from the commercial fluorescent polymer, Super Yellow. Thermal cycling of the sensors results in recovery of fluorescence making them reusable. Interestingly, the release of 2,4-DNT occurs at a specific temperature which can be explored to discriminate which type of analytes are being released from the sensors. To optimise the sensors, blends of SY with Poly carbazole (PVK) were fabricated, and the thermal release of various nitroaromatic analytes were characterised. This method can be applied to other organic fluorescent sensors in a route to make them reusable, and give a selective response based on the temperature at which analytes are released.

Citation Download Citation

Edward B. Ogugu, Ross N. Gillanders, and Graham A. Turnbull "Thermal control of organic semiconductor films for explosives detection", Proc. SPIE PC12149, Organic Electronics and Photonics: Fundamentals and Devices III, PC121491D (30 May 2022); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2621638

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