Highly sensitive gas-phase explosive detection by luminescent microporous polymer networks.

ABSTRACT: We propose microporous networks (MPNs) of a light emitting spiro-carbazole based polymer (PSpCz) as luminescent sensor for nitro-aromatic compounds. The MPNs used in this study can be easily synthesized on arbitrarily sized/shaped substrates by simple and low-cost electrochemical deposition. The resulting MPN afford an extremely high specific surface area of 1300?m(2)/g, more than three orders of magnitude higher than that of the thin films of the respective monomer. We demonstrate, that the luminescence of PSpCz is selectively quenched by nitro-aromatic analytes, e.g. nitrobenzene, 2,4-DNT and TNT. In striking contrast to a control sample based on non-porous spiro-carbazole, which does not show any luminescence quenching upon exposure to TNT at levels of 3?ppm and below, the microporous PSpCz shows a clearly detectable response even at TNT concentrations as low as 5?ppb, clearly demonstrating the advantage of microporous films as luminescent sensors for traces of explosive analytes. This level states the vapor pressure of TNT at room temperature.

SUBMITTER: Raupke A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4931441 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature