Toward the Detection of Poisonous Chemicals and Warfare Agents by Functional Mn₃O₄ Nanosystems

The detection of poisonous chemicals and warfare agents, such as acetonitrile and dimethyl methylphosphonate, is of utmost importance for environmental/health protection and public security. In this regard, supported Mn3O4 nanosystems were fabricated by vapor deposition on Al2O3 substrates, and their structure/morphology were characterized as a function of the used growth atmosphere (dry vs. wet O2). Thanks to the high surface and peculiar nano-organization, the target systems displayed attractive functional properties, unprecedented for similar p-type systems, in the detection of the above chemical species. Their good responses, selectivity, and sensitivity pave the way to the fabrication of low-cost and secure sensors for different harmful analytes.