A novel gaseous dimethylamine sensor utilizing cataluminescence on zirconia nanoparticles

A novel cataluminescence (CTL) sensor using ZrO2 nanoparticles as the sensing material was developed for the determination of trace dimethylamine in air samples based on the catalytic chemiluminescence (CL) of dimethylamine on the surface of ZrO2 nanoparticles. The CTL characteristics and the different factors on the signal intensity for the sensor, including nanomaterials, working temperature, wavelength and airflow rate, were investigated in detail. The CL intensity on ZrO2 nanoparticles was the strongest among the seven examined catalysts. This novel CL sensor showed high sensitivity and selectivity to gaseous dimethylamine at optimal temperature of 330 degrees C. Quantitative analysis was performed at a wavelength of 620 nm. The linear range of CTL intensity vs concentration of gaseous dimethylamine was 4.71 x 10(-3) to 7.07 x 10(-2) mg L-1 (r = 0.9928) with a detection limit (3 sigma) of 6.47 x 10(-4) mg L-1. No or only very low levels of interference were observed while the foreign substances such as benzene, hydrochloric acid, methylbenzene, chloroform, n-hexane and water vapor were passing through the sensor. The response time of the sensor was less than 50 s, and the sensor had a long lifetime of more than 60 h. The sensor was successfully applied to the determination of dimethylamine in artificial air samples, and could potentially be applied to analysis of nerve agents such as Tabun (GA). Copyright (C) 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.