Sensitivity traps for electronic trace detection having explosives or narcotics embedded in a plasticized polymer matrix

A method of manufacturing a sensitivity trap, wherein the sensitivity trap comprises a polymer matrix made of a polymer material, and at least one analyte embedded within the polymer matrix, and wherein the sensitivity trap is defined by a target glass transition temperature, the method comprising:

• selecting an amount and a type of plasticizer, wherein the amount and the type of the plasticizer is based upon a type of the at least one analyte and at least one of the target glass transition temperature or a diffusion coefficient of the at least one analyte and wherein said amount of plasticizer is sufficient to increase a diffusion coefficient of the at least one analyte such that, when the sensitivity trap is inserted into an ion mobility spectrometer (IMS) and exposed to a heating rate of approximately 33° C. per second, the at least one analyte is released from the mixture with sufficient desorption intensity to reach at least 2000 a.u. as measured by the IMS within 4 seconds of initiating heating;
• dissolving a polymer and the selected amount and type of plasticizer in a solvent to form a mixture;
• adding the at least one analyte to the mixture;
• removing the solvent from the mixture;
• and
• depositing the mixture onto a carrier to form the sensitivity trap.