Femtogram-scale photothermal spectroscopy of explosive molecules on nanostrings

Anal Chem. 2014 Nov 18;86(22):11368-72. doi: 10.1021/ac503318e. Epub 2014 Oct 30.

Abstract

We demonstrate detection of femtogram-scale quantities of the explosive molecule 1,3,5-trinitroperhydro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) via combined nanomechanical photothermal spectroscopy and mass desorption. Photothermal spectroscopy provides a spectroscopic fingerprint of the molecule, which is unavailable using mass adsorption/desorption alone. Our measurement, based on thermomechanical measurement of silicon nitride nanostrings, represents the highest mass resolution ever demonstrated via nanomechanical photothermal spectroscopy. This detection scheme is quick, label-free, and is compatible with parallelized molecular analysis of multicomponent targets.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Molecular Structure
  • Nanoparticles / analysis
  • Nanotechnology*
  • Photochemical Processes
  • Silicon Compounds / analysis
  • Spectrum Analysis
  • Temperature*
  • Triazines / analysis*

Substances

  • 1,3,5-trinitroperhydro-1,3,5-triazine
  • Silicon Compounds
  • Triazines
  • silicon nitride