Colloidal Quantum Dots for Explosive Detection: Trends and Perspectives

Sensitive, accurate, and reliable detection of explosives has become one of the major needs for international security and environmental protection. Colloidal quantum dots, because of their unique chemical, optical, and electrical properties, as well as easy synthesis route and functionalization, have demonstrated high potential to meet the requirements for the development of suitable sensors, boosting the research in the field of explosive detection. Here, we critically review the most relevant research works, highlighting three different mechanisms for explosive detection based on colloidal quantum dots, namely photoluminescence, electrochemical, and chemoresistive sensing. We provide a comprehensive overview and an extensive discussion and comparison in terms of the most relevant sensor parameters. We highlight advantages, limitations, and challenges of quantum dot-based explosive sensors and outline future research directions for the advancement of knowledge in this surging research field.

Waste Material Classification: A Short-Wave Infrared Discrete-Light-Source Approach Based on Light-Emitting Diodes

Waste material classification is a challenging yet important task in waste management. The realization of low-cost waste classification systems and methods is critical to meet the ever-increasing demand for efficient waste management and recycling. In this paper, we demonstrate a simple, compact and low-cost classification system based on optical reflectance measurements in the short-wave infrared for the segregation of waste materials such as plastics, paper, glass, and aluminium. The system comprises a small set of LEDs and one single broadband photodetector. All devices are controlled through low-cost and low-power electronics, and data are gathered and managed via a computer interface. The proposed system reaches accuracy levels as high as 94.3% when considering seven distinct materials and 97.0% when excluding the most difficult to classify, thus representing a valuable proof-of-concept for future system developments.

Material classification based on a SWIR discrete spectroscopy approach

A crucial yet difficult task for waste management is the identification of raw materials like plastic, glass, aluminum, and paper. Most previous studies use the diffused reflection spectroscopy for classification purposes. Despite the benefits in terms of speed and simplicity offered by modern compact spectrometers, their cost and the need for an external, wide-spectrum source of illumination create complications. To address this issue, the present paper proposes a discrete spectroscopy method that utilizes short-wave infrared (SWIR) reflectance to identify waste materials, exploiting a small set of selected wavelengths. This approach reduces the complexity of the classification data analysis and offers a more practical alternative to the conventional method. The proposed system comprises a single germanium photodetector and 10 different light emitting diodes (LEDs). The LED wavelengths are selected to maximize the system sensitivity towards a set of seven different waste materials. Using a classification strategy relying on support vector machines, the proposed methodology reaches a classification accuracy up to 98%.

Optical gas sensor based on the combination of a QD photoluminescent probe and a QD photodetector

We report on a sensor architecture for detection of hazardous gases. The proposed device is based on the integration of a solid-state quantum dot (QD) photoluminescent probe with a QD photodetector on the same substrate. The effectiveness of the approach is demonstrated by developing a compact optical sensor for trace detection of explosives in air. The proposed architecture is very simple and consists of a silicon substrate with both surfaces coated with QD films. The upper layer acts as photoluminescent probe, pumped by a blue LED. The change of photoluminescence intensity associated to the interaction between the QDs and the target analyte is measured by the QD photodetector fabricated on the opposite side of the substrate. The sensor is mounted into a small chamber provided with the LED and the front-end electronics. The device is characterized by using nitrobenzene as representative nitroaromatic compound. Extremely low concentrations (down to 0.1 ppm) can be detected by the proposed device, with a theoretical detection limit estimated to be as low as 2 ppb. Results are repeatable and no ageing effect is observed over a 70 d period. The proposed architecture may provide a promising solution for explosive detection in air as well as other sensing applications, thanks to its sensitivity, simple fabrication process, practical usability and cost effectiveness.

Partial-wave series expansions in spherical coordinates for the acoustic field of vortex beams generated from a finite circular aperture

Stemming from the Rayleigh-Sommerfeld surface integral, the addition theorems for the spherical wave and Legendre functions, and a weighting function describing the behavior of the radial component vp1 of the normal velocity at the surface of a finite circular radiating source, partial-wave series expansions are derived for the incident field of acoustic spiraling (vortex) beams in a spherical coordinate system centered on the axis of wave propagation. Examples for vortex beams, comprising ρ-vortex, zeroth-order and higher order Bessel-Gauss and Bessel, truncated Neumann-Gauss and Hankel- Gauss, Laguerre-Gauss, and other Gaussian-type vortex beams are considered. The mathematical expressions are exact solutions of the Helmholtz equation. The results presented here are particularly useful to accurately evaluate analytically and compute numerically the acoustic scattering and other mechanical effects of finite vortex beams, such as the axial and 3-D acoustic radiation force and torque components on a sphere of any (isotropic, anisotropic, etc.) material (fluid, elastic, viscoelastic, etc.), either centered on the beam's axis of wave propagation, or placed off-axially. Numerical predictions allow optimal design of parameters in applications including but not limited to acoustical tweezers, acousto-fluidics, beamforming design, and imaging, to name a few.

Meconium during labour--self-medication and other associations

Prior to artificial rupture of membranes, 498 women were questioned about obstetric and social factors including self-medication during pregnancy. Caesarean section (P less than 0,01) and low Apgar scores (P less than 0,001) were significantly more common in pregnancies complicated by fetal meconium passage. Meconium passage was more common in women who had recently taken castor oil (P less than 0,01) and possibly herbal substances called 'sihlambezo' (trend P less than 0,2). Use of laxatives or enemas and other obstetric risk factors were not associated with meconium passage.