A microcalorimeter with in-situ synthesized nanotube adsorber for trace energetic substance detection

We have developed a microcalorimeter with carbon nanotube adsorber (CNA) integrated on a suspended microcalorimeter for detection of trace energetic substance. The energetic substance vapors are adsorbed onto the CNA surfaces and are heated to micro deflagration using a heater integrated on the microcalorimeter. The released heat from micro deflagration raises the temperature of the microcalorimeter, which is detected by an integrated thermistor as an indicator of energetic substances. The huge surface areas of the CNA facilitate the adsorption to the energetic substances, and are helpful to achieving fast adsorption. The microcalorimeter is able to detect 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) with a limit of detection of 2.6 pg and reduce the adsorption time as much as 60% compared without CNA.