(305e) Wearable Sensor Comprised of Nafion/Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes/Metal Oxide Nanoparticles for the Detection of the Chemical Warfare Agent Simulant DMMP

The imminent threat of odorless and colorless chemical warfare agents (CWA) such as organophosphorus containing nerve agents, has spurred intense efforts towards the development of gas sensors that can finely and selectively detect the presence of these fatal agents. Herein we present the development of wearable CWA sensing composite coatings comprised of defect-rich semiconducting MONP, SWNT and a semi-permeable polyelectroylyte membrane, i.e. Nafion. Nafion-SWNT dispersions are prepared and dropcasted onto wearable cotton fabric, and post-processing techniques are utilized to maximize the electrical conductance. Different candidates of semiconducting MONP (cerium, iron, nickel and zinc) are grown in situ at the hydrophilic ion exchange sites of the Nafion polymer. Composite materials are characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy/electron diffraction spectroscopy (SEM/EDS). Finally, silver metal contacts are evaporated onto the sides of the wearable composite, and the resistance is measured as a function of dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP) vapor concentration.