A molybdenum based nanoparticle ink can detect explosive vapors from the liquids feared by the TSA.
Scientists reported on a spray-on material that both detects and renders harmless the type of terrorist explosives responsible for government restrictions on liquids that can be carried onboard airliners.
The material is a type of ink made of tiny metallic oxide molybdenum nanoparticles which changes color, from dark blue to pale yellow or clear, in the presence of explosives. It also changes from a metallic conductor to a non-conducting material, making electronic sensing of vapors possible.
The highly-sensitive material is capable of detecting triacetone triperoxide vapors at levels as low as a 50 parts per million, equivalent to a few drops of the vapor in a small room, within 30 seconds
The same chemical reaction allows the materials to serve as an explosives neutralizer. The scientists showed that they could add the material to TATP or HMTD and make them nonexplosive.
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