Towards the Development of a Low-Cost Device for the Detection of Explosives Vapors by Fluorescence Quenching of Conjugated Polymers in Solid Matrices
Conjugated polymers (CPs) have proved to be promising chemosensory materials for detecting nitroaromatic explosives vapors, as they quickly convert a chemical interaction into an easily-measured high-sensitivity optical output. The nitroaromatic analytes are strongly electron-deficient, whereas the...
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doaj-4327db7c2e4b4a2ea5e2259cce7e57e12020-11-24T21:46:26ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202017-11-011711253210.3390/s17112532s17112532Towards the Development of a Low-Cost Device for the Detection of Explosives Vapors by Fluorescence Quenching of Conjugated Polymers in Solid MatricesLiliana M. Martelo0Tiago F. Pimentel das Neves1João Figueiredo2Lino Marques3Alexander Fedorov4Ana Charas5Mário N. Berberan-Santos6Hugh D. Burrows7Department of Chemistry, University of Coimbra, 3004-535 Coimbra, PortugalInstitute of Systems and Robotics (ISR), University of Coimbra, 3030-290 Coimbra, PortugalInstitute of Systems and Robotics (ISR), University of Coimbra, 3030-290 Coimbra, PortugalInstitute of Systems and Robotics (ISR), University of Coimbra, 3030-290 Coimbra, PortugalCentro de Química-Física Molecular (CQFM) and the Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN), Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, 1049-001 Lisbon, PortugalInstituto de Telecomunicações, Instituto Superior Técnico, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisbon, PortugalCentro de Química-Física Molecular (CQFM) and the Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN), Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, 1049-001 Lisbon, PortugalDepartment of Chemistry, University of Coimbra, 3004-535 Coimbra, PortugalConjugated polymers (CPs) have proved to be promising chemosensory materials for detecting nitroaromatic explosives vapors, as they quickly convert a chemical interaction into an easily-measured high-sensitivity optical output. The nitroaromatic analytes are strongly electron-deficient, whereas the conjugated polymer sensing materials are electron-rich. As a result, the photoexcitation of the CP is followed by electron transfer to the nitroaromatic analyte, resulting in a quenching of the light-emission from the conjugated polymer. The best CP in our studies was found to be poly[(9,9-dioctylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl)-co-bithiophene] (F8T2). It is photostable, has a good absorption between 400 and 450 nm, and a strong and structured fluorescence around 550 nm. Our studies indicate up to 96% quenching of light-emission, accompanied by a marked decrease in the fluorescence lifetime, upon exposure of the films of F8T2 in ethyl cellulose to nitrobenzene (NB) and 1,3-dinitrobenzene (DNB) vapors at room temperature. The effects of the polymeric matrix, plasticizer, and temperature have been studied, and the morphology of films determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal fluorescence microscopy. We have used ink jet printing to produce sensor films containing both sensor element and a fluorescence reference. In addition, a high dynamic range, intensity-based fluorometer, using a laser diode and a filtered photodiode was developed for use with this system.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/17/11/2532conjugated polymersexplosives detectiontrace analysisoptical sensorluminescence sensor |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Liliana M. Martelo Tiago F. Pimentel das Neves João Figueiredo Lino Marques Alexander Fedorov Ana Charas Mário N. Berberan-Santos Hugh D. Burrows |
spellingShingle |
Liliana M. Martelo Tiago F. Pimentel das Neves João Figueiredo Lino Marques Alexander Fedorov Ana Charas Mário N. Berberan-Santos Hugh D. Burrows Towards the Development of a Low-Cost Device for the Detection of Explosives Vapors by Fluorescence Quenching of Conjugated Polymers in Solid Matrices Sensors conjugated polymers explosives detection trace analysis optical sensor luminescence sensor |
author_facet |
Liliana M. Martelo Tiago F. Pimentel das Neves João Figueiredo Lino Marques Alexander Fedorov Ana Charas Mário N. Berberan-Santos Hugh D. Burrows |
author_sort |
Liliana M. Martelo |
title |
Towards the Development of a Low-Cost Device for the Detection of Explosives Vapors by Fluorescence Quenching of Conjugated Polymers in Solid Matrices |
title_short |
Towards the Development of a Low-Cost Device for the Detection of Explosives Vapors by Fluorescence Quenching of Conjugated Polymers in Solid Matrices |
title_full |
Towards the Development of a Low-Cost Device for the Detection of Explosives Vapors by Fluorescence Quenching of Conjugated Polymers in Solid Matrices |
title_fullStr |
Towards the Development of a Low-Cost Device for the Detection of Explosives Vapors by Fluorescence Quenching of Conjugated Polymers in Solid Matrices |
title_full_unstemmed |
Towards the Development of a Low-Cost Device for the Detection of Explosives Vapors by Fluorescence Quenching of Conjugated Polymers in Solid Matrices |
title_sort |
towards the development of a low-cost device for the detection of explosives vapors by fluorescence quenching of conjugated polymers in solid matrices |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Sensors |
issn |
1424-8220 |
publishDate |
2017-11-01 |
description |
Conjugated polymers (CPs) have proved to be promising chemosensory materials for detecting nitroaromatic explosives vapors, as they quickly convert a chemical interaction into an easily-measured high-sensitivity optical output. The nitroaromatic analytes are strongly electron-deficient, whereas the conjugated polymer sensing materials are electron-rich. As a result, the photoexcitation of the CP is followed by electron transfer to the nitroaromatic analyte, resulting in a quenching of the light-emission from the conjugated polymer. The best CP in our studies was found to be poly[(9,9-dioctylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl)-co-bithiophene] (F8T2). It is photostable, has a good absorption between 400 and 450 nm, and a strong and structured fluorescence around 550 nm. Our studies indicate up to 96% quenching of light-emission, accompanied by a marked decrease in the fluorescence lifetime, upon exposure of the films of F8T2 in ethyl cellulose to nitrobenzene (NB) and 1,3-dinitrobenzene (DNB) vapors at room temperature. The effects of the polymeric matrix, plasticizer, and temperature have been studied, and the morphology of films determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal fluorescence microscopy. We have used ink jet printing to produce sensor films containing both sensor element and a fluorescence reference. In addition, a high dynamic range, intensity-based fluorometer, using a laser diode and a filtered photodiode was developed for use with this system. |
topic |
conjugated polymers explosives detection trace analysis optical sensor luminescence sensor |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/17/11/2532 |
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