Keywords
pentacene, explosives sensing, organic field-effect transistors (OFETs), organic semiconducting materials
Presentation Type
Poster
Research Abstract
Trinitrotoluene (TNT) is a commonly used explosive and poses a significant risk to security arenas across the globe. The use of organic electronics for the detection of explosive residues allows for large scale, solution-processible, and environmentally stable devices with a high selectivity for TNT detection. Currently, fluorescence-based sensors are used in TNT detection, but the synthesis of the fluorescent molecules can be complicated and costly. Hence, we introduce a new design paradigm to overcome this limitation. Specifically, organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) were created using 6,13-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl) (TIPS) pentacene as the active material to collect a baseline mobility and the on current to off current ratio (ON/OFF). Then, blends of TIPS-pentacene and varying concentrations of TNT were used in OFETs, and the change in the ON/OFF and charge carrier mobility were evaluated. With the introduction of TNT, the ON/OFF increases in value and it was observed that the concentration of the TNT in the film blend has an effect on how much the ON/OFF and hole mobility increases. The measured change in the ON/OFF were used to create a calibration curve that shows the dependence of the TNT concentration. A device that incorporates the TIPS-pentacene FET could eventually be used to sweep an area or surface for the presence of dangerous explosives through a change in an electrical signal in the device and interpretation of the calibration curves.
Session Track
Sensing and Control
Recommended Citation
Elizabeth A. Jergens, Jennifer S. Laster, and Bryan W. Boudouris,
"Detecting Trace Explosives with Organic Electronic Devices"
(August 4, 2016).
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium.
Paper 60.
https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/surf/2016/presentations/60
Detecting Trace Explosives with Organic Electronic Devices
Trinitrotoluene (TNT) is a commonly used explosive and poses a significant risk to security arenas across the globe. The use of organic electronics for the detection of explosive residues allows for large scale, solution-processible, and environmentally stable devices with a high selectivity for TNT detection. Currently, fluorescence-based sensors are used in TNT detection, but the synthesis of the fluorescent molecules can be complicated and costly. Hence, we introduce a new design paradigm to overcome this limitation. Specifically, organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) were created using 6,13-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl) (TIPS) pentacene as the active material to collect a baseline mobility and the on current to off current ratio (ON/OFF). Then, blends of TIPS-pentacene and varying concentrations of TNT were used in OFETs, and the change in the ON/OFF and charge carrier mobility were evaluated. With the introduction of TNT, the ON/OFF increases in value and it was observed that the concentration of the TNT in the film blend has an effect on how much the ON/OFF and hole mobility increases. The measured change in the ON/OFF were used to create a calibration curve that shows the dependence of the TNT concentration. A device that incorporates the TIPS-pentacene FET could eventually be used to sweep an area or surface for the presence of dangerous explosives through a change in an electrical signal in the device and interpretation of the calibration curves.