Cyclic and Square-Wave Voltammetric Signatures of Nitro-Containing Explosives

While cathodic voltammetric measurements based on the reduction of nitro-containing explosive compounds have been well documented, little attention has been given for exploiting their anodic response, associated with the oxidation of their reaction products, for qualitative and quantitative security and forensic information. We demonstrate here that cyclic square-wave volammetry, combining the cathodic and anodic signals, offers distinct electrochemical profiles for trace nitroaromatic, nitramine and nitrate ester explosives compared to analogous cyclic-voltammetric and cathodic square-wave-voltammetric measurements. Unique electrochemical signatures are also obtained for commonly used explosive mixtures. Such distinct explosive signatures at disposable strip electrodes should facilitate rapid decentralized security screening applications.