| SUBJECT |
HOW IT WORKS: Nanoscale holes in the porous matrix act as concentrators, condensing vapors of the analyte. Catalytic reactions take place in small micellar nanoreactors, converting the analyte into a chemical that can be recognized specifically by the matrix (see J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2000, (22), 5399-5400). The particle has a layered structure that provides an optical code, much like a barcode, that can be read by a remote laser beam. The reactions in the nanoreactors change the code in a predictable fashion, providing a signal that scales with dose. In the example shown in the image, the catalytic reaction is chosen to detect G-type nerve warfare agents, such as Sarin (the agent used in the Tokyo subway attack perpetrated by the Aum Shinrikyo cult).
|