Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
1242436 Talanta 2016 10 Pages PDF
Abstract

•MEES can be applied to detection of trace explosives on solid surfaces under ambient conditions.•The method LODs are in the sub pmol range.•In the surface scanning mode MEES can disclose the surface distribution of the tested compounds.

Multiphoton electron extraction spectroscopy (MEES) is an analytical method in which UV laser pulses are utilized for extracting electrons from solid surfaces in multiphoton processes under ambient conditions. Counting the emitted electrons as a function of laser wavelength results in detailed spectral features, which can be used for material identification. The method has been applied to detection of trace explosives on a variety of surfaces. Detection was possible on dusty swabs spiked with explosives and also in the standard dry-transfer contamination procedure. Plastic explosives could also be detected. The analytical limits of detection (LODs) are in the sub pmole range, which indicates that MEES is one of the most sensitive detection methods for solid surface under ambient conditions. Scanning the surface with the laser allows for its imaging, such that explosives (as well as other materials) can be located. The imaging mode is also useful in forensic applications, such as detection of explosives in human fingerprints.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide

Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering Chemistry Analytical Chemistry
Authors
, , , , , ,