A Sensor Array Realized by a Single Flexible TiO(2)/POMs Film to Contactless Detection of Triacetone Triperoxide

The homemade explosive, triacetone triperoxide (TATP), is easy to synthesize, sensitive to detonation but hard to detect directly. Vapor sensor arrays composed of a few sensor materials have the potential to discriminate TATP, but the stability of the sensor array is always a tricky problem since each sensor may encounter a device fault. Thus, a sensor array based on a single optoelectronic TiO(2)/PW(11) sensor was first constructed by regulating the excitation wavelength to discriminate TATP from other explosives. By in situ doping of Na(3)PW(12)O(40), a Keggin structure of PW(11) formed on the TiO(2) to promote the photoinduced electron-hole separation, thus obviously improving the detection sensitivity of the sensor film and shortening the response time. The response of the TiO(2)/PW(11) sensor film to TATP under 365, 450 and 550 nm illumination is 81%, 42%, and 37%, respectively. The TiO(2)/PW(11) sensor features selectivity to TATP and is able to detect less than 50 ppb. The flexibility and stability of the flexible sensor film is also demonstrated with the extent of bending. Furthermore, the sensing response cannot be affected by ambient air below 60% relative humidity.