Explosives detection sensor

A system for detecting the presence of an explosive material, the system comprising:

• a) at least one solid state electrochemical sensor for detecting at least one gaseous specie emitted by an explosive material, the at least one sensor comprising:
• i) at least two electrodes, the at least two electrodes comprising a first catalytic electrode and a second catalytic electrode electrically couple to each other, wherein the first catalytic electrode and the second catalytic electrode are dissimilar, and
• ii) an electrolyte disposed between the first catalytic electrode and the second catalytic electrode, wherein the at least one gaseous specie emitted by the explosive material catalytically reacts with each of the first electrode and the second electrode, producing at least one of a potential difference and a current flow between the first catalytic electrode and the second catalytic electrode, the at least one of potential difference and current flow corresponding to a concentration of the at least one gaseous specie, and wherein the at least one of potential difference and current flow is indicative of the presence of the explosive material;
• b) a sampler in fluid communication with the at least one solid state electrochemical sensor, wherein the sampler provides a gaseous sample to the solid state electrochemical sensor;
• c) a detector, wherein the detector detects the at least one of potential difference and current flow between the first catalytic electrode and the second catalytic electrode;
• and
• d) a processor coupled to the detector, wherein the processor converts the at least one of potential difference and current flow into a concentration of at least one of the gaseous species emitted by the explosive material, and wherein the processor determines whether the explosive material is present based upon the concentration of the gaseous species.

A method of detecting the presence of an explosive material, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a solid state electrochemical sensor, the electrochemical sensor comprising a first catalytic electrode and a second catalytic electrode, and an electrolyte disposed between the first catalytic electrode and the second catalytic electrode, the first catalytic electrode and the second catalytic electrode being dissimilar;
• b) providing a gaseous sample from a first composition to the solid state electrochemical sensor, wherein at least one gaseous specie emitted from the explosive material, when present in the gaseous sample, reacts with each of the first catalytic electrode and the second catalytic electrode to produce at least one of a potential difference and a current flow between the first catalytic electrode and the second catalytic electrode;
• and
• c) detecting the at least one of potential difference and current flow, wherein the at least one of potential difference and current flow is indicative of the presence of the explosive material in the first composition.