US 10,119,953 B1 · Metal chalcogenide quantum dots for the detection of nitroaromatic chemicals

Abstract

The synthesis of AgInS2 based quantum dots and their use as fluorometric probes for the selective detection of nitroaromatic explosive chemicals, without the use of ligands specific to nitroaromatic explosive chemicals. These quantum dots allow the detection of nitroaromatic explosive molecules by eye. The present invention also represents a simple patterning method for quantum dots on substrates, including low cost filter paper. The ease of fabrication, use of less toxic materials, and the selectivity to nitroaromatic explosive chemicals results in a practical solution to the development of a portable fluorescent probe based on quantum dots for the detection of nitroaromatic explosive chemicals.

Claims22

Dependent claims

An analytical energetic material detection element, comprising:

a substrate;
and, one or more pluralities of functionalized fluorescent nanoparticles deposited on the substrate so that the nanoparticles are exposed to an outer environment of the detection element, wherein said nanoparticles undergo a fluorescence change in the presence of an energetic material;
each of said one or more pluralities of functionalized fluorescent nanoparticles consisting of a single selected molar ratio of at least three elemental components wherein two of the at least three elemental components are S and In, and wherein other at least three elemental components are selected from the group consisting of:
Zn, Ag, Cu, and combinations thereof wherein said one or more pluralities of functionalized fluorescent nanoparticles consisting of said single selected molar ratio of said at least three elemental components are functionalized with a ligand.

1 more element

An assay method for detecting the presence of one or more target energetic materials in a sample, comprising:

exposing a detection element to a sample to be tested, wherein the detection element comprises a substrate and one or more pluralities of functionalized fluorescent nanoparticles deposited on the substrate so that the nanoparticles are exposed to an outer environment, wherein said nanoparticles undergo a change in fluorescence in the presence of the one or more target energetic materials;
illuminating the detection element with a source of UV light;
and,
determining any change in fluorescence of the illuminated detection element to determine if it corresponds to one or more fluorescence values that is indicative of the presence of one or more of the one or more target energetic materials;
wherein said detection element comprises one or more pluralities of functionalized fluorescent nanoparticles consisting of a single selected molar ratio of at least three elemental components wherein two of the at least three elemental components are S and In, and wherein other at least three elemental components are selected from the group consisting of:
Zn, Ag, Cu, and combinations thereof wherein said one or more pluralities of functionalized fluorescent nanoparticles consisting of said single selected molar ratio of said at least three elemental components are functionalized with a ligand.

3 more elements

A chemical-analysis device for detecting at least one energetic material in a sample, wherein the device comprises:

at least one test element for detecting the at least one energetic material, the test element comprising a substrate having a fluorescent surface, wherein the fluorescent surface comprises at least one detection reagent which is set up to carry out at least one visually detectable reaction that results in a change in fluorescence of the at least one detection reagent in the presence of the at least one energetic material;
wherein said at least one detection reagent comprises one or more pluralities of functionalized fluorescent nanoparticles consisting of a single selected molar ratio of at least three elemental components wherein two of the at least three elemental components are S and In, and wherein other at least three elemental components are selected from the group consisting of:
Zn, Ag, Cu, and combinations thereof wherein said one or more pluralities of functionalized fluorescent nanoparticles consisting of said single selected molar ratio of said at least three elemental components are functionalized with a ligand.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

15/705,731Filed 15 Sep 2017 · continuation in part

Priority

20 Mar 2015

Granted

6 Nov 2018

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification22 codes

G01N 33/227
Fuels; Explosives: explosives, e.g. combustive properties thereof
C01G 15/006
Compounds of gallium, indium or thallium: compounds containing gallium, indium or thallium, with or without oxygen or hydrogen, and containing two…
C06B 25/04
Compositions containing a nitrated organic compound: the nitrated compound being an aromatic
C06B 25/34
Compositions containing a nitrated organic compound: the compound being a nitrated acyclic, alicyclic or heterocyclic amine

Family

Application62/135,822Us provisional application · filed 20 Mar 2015

Application62/245,061Us provisional application · filed 22 Oct 2015

Application15/072,692Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 17 Mar 2016

Application15/247,344Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 25 Aug 2016

US 10,107,787 B1Related patent

US 10,125,311 B1Related patent

US 10,119,953 B1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Metal chalcogenide quantum dots for the detection of nitroaromatic chemicals

Life of this patent

Metal chalcogenide quantum dots for the detection of nitroaromatic chemicals

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22