Non-contact real-time detection of trace nitro-explosives by MOF composites visible-light chemiresistor
Weihua Deng, Ming‐Shui Yao, Minyi Zhang, Masahiko Tsujimoto, Ken‐ichi Otake, Bo Wang, Chunsen Li, Gang Xu, Susumu Kitagawa
Abstract
Abstract To create an artificial structure to remarkably surpass the sensitivity, selectivity and speed of the olfaction system of animals is still a daunting challenge. Herein, we propose a core-sheath pillar (CSP) architecture with a perfect synergistic interface that effectively integrates the advantages of metal–organic frameworks and metal oxides to tackle the above-mentioned challenge. The sheath material, NH2-MIL-125, can concentrate target analyte, nitro-explosives, by 1012 times from its vapour. The perfect band-matched synergistic interface enables the TiO2 core to effectively harvest and utilize visible light. At room temperature and under visible light, CSP (TiO2, NH2-MIL-125) shows an unexpected self-promoting analyte-sensing behaviour. Its experimentally reached limit of detection (∼0.8 ppq, hexogeon) is 103 times lower than the lowest one achieved by a sniffer dog or all sensing techniques without analyte pre-concentration. Moreover, the sensor exhibits excellent selectivity against commonly existing interferences, with a short response time of 0.14 min.