Detection of adsorbed explosive molecules using thermal response of suspended microfabricated bridges

Here we present a thermophysical technique that is capable of differentiating vapor phase adsorbed explosives from nonexplosives and is additionally capable of differentiating individual species of common explosive vapors. This technique utilizes pairs of suspended microfabricated silicon bridges that can be heated in a controlled fashion. The differential thermal response of the bridges with and without adsorbed explosive vapor shows unique and reproducible characteristics depending on the nature of the adsorbed explosives. The tunable heating rate method described here is capable of providing unique signals for subnanogram quantities of adsorbed explosives within 50 ms. (C) 2008 American Institute of Physics. [DOI: 10.1063/1.3002285]