Development of an autonomous detector for sensing of nerve agents based on functionalized silicon nanowire field-effect transistors

Simon Clavaguera (1) , Nicolas Raoul (1) , Alexandre Carella (1) , Michael Delalande (1) , Caroline Celle (1) , Jean-Pierre Simonato (1)

1 LITEN - Laboratoire d'Innovation pour les Technologies des Energies Nouvelles et les nanomatériaux

The ability to detect minute traces of chemical warfare agents is mandatory both for military forces and homeland security. Various detectors based on different technologies are available but still suffer from serious drawbacks such as false positives. There is still a need for the development of innovative reliable sensors, in particular for organophosphorus nerve agents like Sarin. We report herein on the fabrication of a portable, battery-operated, microprocessor-based prototype sensor system relying on silicon nanowire field-effect transistors for the detection of nerve agents. A fast, supersensitive and highly selective detection of organophosphorus molecules is reported. The results show also high selectivity in complex mixtures and on contaminated materials.

Mots clés: Field-effect transistor; Nerve agent; Organophosphorus; Sensor; Silicon nanowire; Prototype

Domaines: Chimie analytique; Chimie organique

Simon Clavaguera, Nicolas Raoul, Alexandre Carella, Michael Delalande, Caroline Celle, et al.. Development of an autonomous detector for sensing of nerve agents based on functionalized silicon nanowire field-effect transistors. Talanta, 2011, 85, pp.2542-2545. ⟨10.1016/j.talanta.2011.08.012⟩. ⟨cea-01344114⟩