A review of sensing technologies for nerve agents, through the use of agent mimics in the gas phase: Future needs

The aim of the work presented in this review is to present a detailed summary of the current sensing technology available within the scientific literature for the detection of nerve agent simulants in the gas phase, focussing on the recognised sarin surrogate: dimethyl methylphonate (DMMP). The use of simulants for the development of sensing technology has been widely established for nerve agents to reduce the potential risk to personnel and to offer a realistic, simple molecule to try and test the technology. The present review compiles a comparison of different sensors and their respective sensing mechanisms. These sensing technologies are then compared to the U.S environmental protection agencies standard for concentration of Sarin at 15 ppb (known lethal dose). Only some work developed using semiconductor detectors present a reliable system able to detect DMMP with low LoD (0.05 ppb), fast response time (0.02 mins) and good recovery times (0.5 min).