Optical chemical sensors for the detection of explosives and associated substances

The main analytical characteristics of optical chemical sensors for detecting the vapors and microparticles of explosives and associated substances are compared. The limits of detection, sensitivity, sensor setting time (response speed) and recovery time after the action of an analyte, and the selectivity of fluorescence sensors, chemiluminescence sensors, surface-enhanced Raman sensors, surface plasmon resonance sensors, absorption integrated optical waveguide sensors, waveguide interferometric sensors, and ring resonator based sensors. The effectiveness of the use of nanosized structures and bio- and nanostructured specific coatings in optical sensors is analyzed.