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Updated: Apr 25, 2026

Quantitative Detection of Trace Explosive Vapors by Programmed Temperature Desorption Gas Chromatography-Electron Capture Detector
Published on: July 25, 2014
Laser desorption with corona discharge ion mobility spectrometry for direct surface detection of explosives
M Sabo1, M Malásková, S Matejčík
1Department of Experimental Physics, Comenius University, Mlynská dolina F2 842 48, Bratislava, Slovakia. matejcik@fmph.uniba.sk.
Abstract:
We present a new highly sensitive technique for the detection of explosives directly from the surface using laser desorption-corona discharge-ion mobility spectrometry (LD-CD-IMS). We have developed LD based on laser diode modules (LDM) and the technique was tested using three different LDM (445, 532 and 665 nm). The explosives were detected directly from the surface without any further preparation. We discuss the mechanism of the LD and the limitations of this technique such as desorption time, transport time and desorption area. After the evaluation of experimental data, we estimated the potential limits of detection of this method to be 0.6 pg for TNT, 2.8 pg for RDX and 8.4 pg for PETN.
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