AUS researchers develop cutting-edge sensors to detect toxic compounds

A research team at the American University of Sharjah (AUS) has developed two luminescent sensors that can detect minute quantities of toxic compounds containing phosphorus, such as pesticides and Chemical Warfare Agents (CWA), improving upon technology currently available in the market.
The new sensors can be used in several areas, including military and defence for the detection of CWAs, environmental monitoring to detect pesticide contamination in agricultural settings, industrial settings to monitor the presence of toxic chemicals, emergency response to chemical spills or releases, public safety, research and development, and many others.
The AUS Technology Transfer Office has filed for a provisional patent for the technology with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Funded by an AUS Faculty Research Grant, Dr Imad Abu-Yousef and Dr Sofian Kanan, both professors in the Department of Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Science, are now in the process of developing a sensor prototype.
“These sensors are sensitive and selective, which means they can detect even tiny amounts of these compounds. The luminescent sensors change colour when they come into contact with these toxic compounds within just 30 seconds. This means they can detect the presence of these compounds in real-time and interact with them, which can also help neutralise some of their toxic effects, making the sensors potentially useful for both detection and protection purposes,” said Dr. Kanan, the project lead.
Unlike other sensors that depend on semiconducting metal oxides such as tin, zinc and others, these luminescent sensors operate at room temperature, eliminating the need for high-temperature conditions and vacuum systems. They are highly sensitive and selective to sarin simulants (chemical compounds that mimic the properties of nerve agent sarin), even in the presence of water and other interfering substances. The sensors are also stable and easy to manufacture in large quantities. These features make them an easier and more efficient method for detecting CWAs.
“This research spanned over 10 months in the research facilities of the Department of Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Sciences. This included the planning of synthesis strategies, characterisation of the synthesised sensors, and real testing with a CWA simulant to optimise the sensors’ sensitivity and selectivity. Following the optimisation of all conditions and synthetic protocols, the materials can now be prepared within one week in our laboratories,” said Dr Kanan.