Carbon nanotubes to help sappers

Another use of carbon nanotubes, which have previously been used in a new light source, flexible super capacitors and sensitive sensors, found researchers at the University of Utah. With their help, a team of scientists led by Professor Ling Zhang created a prototype sensor for the detection of explosives, which is also suitable for the identification of drugs and hazardous chemicals, such as nerve agents.



The new device, which will have to help the sappers find explosives, consists of two electrodes, between which there are macroscopic carbon nanotubes. If under no explosives, drugs or chemicals that current between the electrodes is in a strictly defined limits established by the control circuit. If there is in the air, or any substance, the electrical conductivity of nanotubes due to its exposure to changes in either direction and control current begins to "walk".

The sensitivity of the new sensor is so great that the control circuit can be easily configured to identify a single substance or group of substances in general. In the current prototype version of the new sensor is able to identify more than two dozen toxic chemicals, including gases such as sarin and chlorine. The researchers note that their sensor is much more accurate and sensitive for the existing and widely used at the moment. Especially since it is universal, ie can easily be configured to detect various substances, including explosives without any structural refinement.

They also note that the sensor is very cheap and not complex to manufacture because it uses a very small amount of nanotubes. The first commercial version of the new sensor for deminers should see the light at the beginning of the next 2015. The sensor can be used in both new devices detect substances and integrated into existing security systems, such as airports or other public places.