ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the applications of different nanomaterials (NM) in sensor development and presents their use in a functional real-time chemical warfare agent (CWA) sensor. Nanoparticles/NMs are a ubiquitous part of nature, existing naturally in the forms of dust, smoke, and other ultrafine particulates. The physicochemical properties of NMs have resulted in the advancement of many technologies and fields, including biological and chemical sensing. Gold nanomaterial-based sensors (NMbS) are promising for the detection of CWAs because of their perceived biocompatibility and unique optical properties, which are correlated with particle size and shape. Metal oxide/hybrid NMbSs have been shown to recognize multiple analytes in complex mixtures and would make an ideal sensing material. Silver nanoparticles (AgNP) have been used to monitor organophosphorus pesticide–induced acetylcholinesterase inhibition by measuring thiocholine production. AgNPs display analogous plasmonic optical properties to gold nanoparticles and are often interchangeable in nonbiological applications. The catalytic nature of the oxides affords their combination with metals/materials.
