NOVELTY - Sensing nitroaromatic electron accepting compounds using a photovoltaic sensor, involves: producing an illumination directed towards one side of a subject space using a light source of a wavelength within an absorption spectrum of organic materials; disposing the photovoltaic sensor in the subject space such that its glass substrate side faces the light source illumination to produce at least a measurable baseline photovoltaic output; disposing a subject material such that analyte vapor is emitted within the subject space; and detecting a photovoltaic output.    USE - The method is useful for sensing nitroaromatic electron accepting compounds using a photovoltaic sensor (claimed).    ADVANTAGE - The method provides an efficient way of sensing the presence of electron accepting nitroaromatic compounds. Also, the method uses a device which upon exposure to an electron accepting compound produces an increase in photovoltaic activity due to more efficient charge separation, producing a larger measurable open circuit voltage. It serves to provide a more robust isolation between the anode and cathode to prevent shorting when the cathode connection is made. This cathode design may provide an increased amount of diffusion points at the polymer cathode interface due to the large circumference of the design.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Sensing nitroaromatic electron accepting compounds using a photovoltaic sensor, involves: producing an illumination directed towards one side of a subject space using a light source of a wavelength within an absorption spectrum of organic materials; disposing the photovoltaic sensor in the subject space such that its glass substrate side faces the light source illumination to produce at least a measurable baseline photovoltaic output in response to the illumination of a wavelength within an absorption spectrum of organic materials; disposing a subject material such that analyte vapor is emitted within the subject space; and detecting a photovoltaic output measurably greater than the baseline photovoltaic output in the presence of an electron accepting compound in the analyte vapor as a result of the photovoltaic sensor producing an increase in photovoltaic activity in the presence of an electron accepting compound.