The chemical alkane is very difficult to detect with current technology. Alkanes are the basis of all combustible fuels, such as gasoline, airplane fuel, and oil. The chemical can also be used in explosives. Alkanes are types of saturated hydrocarbon (that is their carbon atoms are joined to each other by single covalent bonds.) Examples of alkanes are methane, ethane, propane and butane.
Alkanes are difficult to detect because the vapour produced is odourless and colorless. To overcome this, researchers have developed a special form of fiber material. The material is designed to work in a hand-held scanner. Currently no portable scanner exists, and samples need to be transported back to a laboratory for analysis, which takes time.
The fiber material is formed from two nanofibers. These act in synchronicity, transferring electrons between each other. This means that when an alkane is in the air, the carbon and hydrogen atoms stick between the two fibers, which blocks electron transfer and signals, to a sensor, the presence of the chemical.
In trials, the material has proven to be effective in detecting low levels of atmospheric alkane fuel vapour. In theory, this should be sufficient to detect a leak from a pipe, aircraft or even a hidden bomb.
Lead researcher, Professor Ling Zang explains further in his research note: “It’s not mobile and very heavy. There’s no way it can be used in the field. Imagine trying to detect the leak from a gas valve or on the pipelines. You ought to have something portable.”
The instrument is set to be commercialized by a start-up company called Vaporsens, which is a spin-off from the University of Utah. It will be marketed for oil pipelines, airplane fuel tanks and for security. For the security aspect, funding for the project was received from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. National Science Foundation and NASA
The research and development of the new material is published in the journal American Chemical Society Sensors. The research it titled “Interfacial Donor–Acceptor Nanofibril Composites for Selective Alkane Vapor Detection.”
