Synthesis and characterization of new mesoporous silica film materials for explosive detection

Trace explosives detection plays a more and more important role in military, civilian and opposition to state terrorism application. Through sol-gel technique and spin coating technology, three different types of surfactants as structure-directing agent, a series of different pore size mesoporous silica thin films with two-dimensional hexagonal structure doped by silylated naphthol fluorescence dye were successfully fabricated. By using fluorescence spectra method, different films doping fluorescence dye were sensed toward nitro explosive vapor such as 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), 1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazacyclohexane (RDX), octahydro -1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX), and exhibit rapid response rate and extremely high fluorescent quenching efficiency, close to 72% after 60s response to TNT. The results clearly show that mesoporous silica films, with different porous size and structure, easily to be prepared and own high sensitivity, could be used as a new alternative of trace explosive detecting material.