Fluorescent Nanofilms for Nitroaromatic Explosives Detection-Promises and Challenges

Fast and sensitive detection of nitro-aromatic explosives is of vital importance for finding hidden explosives in airport luggage or mails, screening of personnel, and detection of buried landmines [1-3]. A crucial example is the detection of trace amount of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), which is a typical nitro-aromatic explosives [ 4-8]. Various TNT detection methods are currently available, such as, the fluorescence quenching method, micromechanical sensors based on micro cantilever, the electrochemical method, ion mobility s pectroscopy (IMS), the surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy ( SERS) and semiconductor based gas sensors [7,9-23]. Among t he above-mentioned methods used for TNT detection, the fluorescence quenching method is considered to be the most effective tool for sensing nitro-aromatic explosives in recent years owing to its high sensitivity, convenience, easy visualization, and short response t ime for detection [24].