Array-based carbon black-polymer composite vapor detectors for detection of DNT in environments containing complex analyte mixtures

Thin films of carbon black-organic polymer composites have been deposited across two metallic leads, with sorption of vapors producing swelling-induced resistance changes of the detector films. To identify and classify vapors, arrays of such vapor sensing elements have been constructed in which each element of the array contains a different polymer as the insulating phase and a common conductor, carbon black, as the conducting phase. The differing gas-solid partition coefficients for the various polymers of the detector array produce a pattern of differential resistance changes that is used to classify vapors and vapor mixtures. The performance of this detector array system towards 2,4-dinitrotoluene, the predominant signature in the vapor phase above land mines, in the presence high concentrations of water or of acetone has been evaluated.