Chemical weapons are undeniably nasty — some of the most vile things science has ever created — but now maybe science is close to finding a reliable way to neutralize some of these terrible weapons. By weaving carbon nanotubes into clothing, a team from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) may have figured out a simple way to deconstruct nerve gases, like sarin, in moments.

On a molecular level, it’s the physical shape and charge pattern of a molecule that allows it to interact with other molecules. In the case of sarin gas, its shape gives it devastatingly toxic properties (this was the nerve gas used in the now infamous 1995 Tokyo subway attacks). Exposure to sarin, either by inhalation or contact with the skin, causes the neurotransmitter acetylcholine to build up in the nervous system, which makes muscles seize up. When this effect reaches the diaphragm and other muscles responsible for breathing, asphyxiation is not far behind. The key to deconstructing sarin and similar organophosphate compounds is breaking the P-F bond, and this is what the NIST team has figured out how to do with specially treated carbon nanotubes.

Catalyzing the breakdown of sarin isn’t terribly difficult in a laboratory setting, but doing so passively in a real world situation is the challenge, thus carbon nanotubes are the perfect solution. They are lightweight, durable, and have high surface area relative to volume. This allowed the researchers to coat nanotubes with a catalytic polymer compound known as a copper-chelating bipyridine. When sarin comes in contact with these compounds, the P-F bond is hydrolyzed (broken) and its deadly effects are neutralized.

Working with real sarin gas is not only dangerous, it’s completely unnecessary in this case. The researchers instead performed their experiments on a safe molecule that contained the same P-F bond that is the weak point of sarin. They used UV-vis spectroscopy to monitor the breakdown rate of the molecule when exposed to the treated carbon nanotubes, finding that it was breaking bonds approximately 63 times faster than sarin’s natural decay rate. If clothing and other materials had these nanotubes woven in, it could easily be the difference between lethal exposure and a survivable incident for the victims of poison gas attacks.

The researchers see this as a perfect approach to creating self-decontaminating materials, which would be a boon to those tasked with cleaning up after an organophosphate accident or attack. These gasses often become embedded in fabrics, allowing them to be re-dispersed later. Now it’s a matter of determining whether the nanotubes are more effective when coated with the reactive polymer before or after being incorporated into fabrics. It may also be possible to tweak the formulation and coating process to make the polymer even more reactive, which may break down organophosphates more quickly.

Of course, this all assumes such a material can be made safe, comfortable for the wearer, and somewhat affordable — far from a sure thing when working with exotic nanoparticles.