Zinc Phthalocyanine Sensing Mechanism Quantification for Potential Application in Chemical Warfare Agent Detectors

• Published in: Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 22; no. 24; p. 9947
• Main Authors: Powroźnik, Paulina, Solecka, Barbara, Pander, Piotr, Jakubik, Wiesław, Dias, Fernando B, Krzywiecki, Maciej
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 16-12-2022; MDPI
• Subjects: Activation energy; Adsorption; adsorption energy; Chemical warfare; Chemical Warfare Agents - analysis; Decomposition; Desorption; desorption activation energy; DMMP; Energy; Experiments; Glass substrates; Molybdenum; Organometallic Compounds - chemistry; Phthalocyanins; Room temperature; Sarin; Security management; sensing mechanism; Sensors; Software; Spectrum analysis; Thermal desorption spectroscopy; Volatile compounds; Zinc; Zinc Compounds; zinc phthalocyanine; United Kingdom; Germany; United States > US; impedance spectroscopy; desorption activation energy; adsorption energy; zinc phthalocyanine; chemical warfare counteraction; sensing mechanism; DMMP; thermal desorption spectroscopy
• ISSN: 1424-8220; 1424-8220
• DOI: 10.3390/s22249947

Rapid and accurate detection of lethal volatile compounds is an emerging requirement to ensure the security of the current and future society. Since the threats are becoming more complex, the assurance of future sensing devices' performance can be obtained solely based on a thorough fundamental approach, by utilizing physics and chemistry together. In this work, we have applied thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS) to study dimethyl methylophosphate (DMMP, sarin analogue) adsorption on zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc), aiming to achieve the quantification of the sensing mechanism. Furthermore, we utilize a novel approach to TDS that involves quantum chemistry calculations for the determination of desorption activation energies. As a result, we have provided a comprehensive description of DMMP desorption processes from ZnPc, which is the basis for successful future applications of sarin ZnPc-based sensors. Finally, we have verified the sensing capability of the studied material at room temperature using impedance spectroscopy and took the final steps towards demonstrating ZnPc as a promising sarin sensor candidate.