Highly Photostable and Luminescent Donor-Acceptor Molecules for Ultrasensitive Detection of Sulfur Mustard.

ABSTRACT: Real-time, high signal intensity, and prolonged detection is challenging because of the rarity of fluorophores with both high photostability and luminescence efficiency. In this work, new donor-acceptor (D-A) molecules for overcoming these limitations are reported. A hybridized local and an intramolecular charge-transfer excited state is demonstrated to afford high photoluminescence efficiency of these D-A molecules in solution (?100%). The twisted molecular structure and bulky alkyl chains effectively suppress ?-? and dipole-dipole interactions, enabling high luminescence efficiency of 1 and 2 in the solid state (?94% and 100%). Furthermore, two D-A aggregates exhibit high photostability as evidenced by 4% and 8% of the fluorescence decreasing after 6 h of continuous irradiation in air, which is in sharp contrast to ?95% of fluorescence decreasing in a reference compound. Importantly, with these molecules, ultrasensitive detection of sulfur mustard (SM) with a record limit of 10 ppb and selective detection of SM in complex matrices are achieved.

SUBMITTER: Cui L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7887598 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature