Attogram sensing of trinitrotoluene with a self-assembled molecular gelator

Fluorescent detection of TNT and 4-nitrophenol by BSA Au nanoclusters

Rapid and sensitive detection of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) has attracted considerable attention due to their wide applications as nitroaromatic explosive materials.

Supramolecular assemblies of amide-derived organogels featuring rigid π-conjugated phenylethynyl frameworks

Organogels, being an important class of soft materials, have evolved to be one of the most attractive subjects bridging supramolecular chemistry and material sciences due to their structural diversity and associated physical properties. Myriad applications in fields such as optoelectronics, light harvesting, environmental science, and regenerative medicine are being envisaged. Supramolecular gels usually are formed through self-aggregation of small-molecule gelators to form entangled self-assembled fibrillar networks through a combination of non covalent interactions such as hydrogen bonding, π-π stacking, electrostatic forces, donor-acceptor interactions, metal coordination, solvophobic forces, and van der Waals interactions. This feature article discusses recent and current state of research on amide derived organogelators bearing rigid conjugated phenylethynyl building blocks. Selective examples from our works along with some closely related examples from literature have been highlighted to showcase the structural diversity and their potential applications in supramolecular chemistry and materials science.

Topography of photochemical initiation in molecular materials

We propose a fluctuation model of the photochemical initiation of an explosive chain reaction in energetic materials. In accordance with the developed model, density fluctuations of photo-excited molecules serve as reaction nucleation sites due to the stochastic character of interactions between photons and energetic molecules. A further development of the reaction is determined by a competition of two processes. The first process is growth in size of the isolated reaction cell, leading to a micro-explosion and release of the material from the cell towards the sample surface. The second process is the overlap of reaction cells due to an increase in their size, leading to the formation of a continuous reaction zone and culminating in a macro-explosion, i.e., explosion of the entire area, covering a large part of the volume of the sample. Within the proposed analytical model, we derived expressions of the explosion probability and the duration of the induction period as a function of the initiation energy (exposure). An experimental verification of the model was performed by exploring the initiation of pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) with the first harmonic of YAG: Nd laser excitation (1,064 nm, 10 ns), which has confirmed the adequacy of the model. This validation allowed us to make a few quantitative assessments and predictions. For example, there must be a few dozen optically excited molecules produced by the initial fluctuations for the explosive decomposition reaction to occur and the life-time of an isolated cell before the micro-explosion must be of the order of microseconds.

Fluorescent films based on molecular-gel networks and their sensing performances

A pyrene-capped terthiophene of cholesteryl derivative (CholG-3T-Py) was designed, synthesized, and utilized for the fabrication of a fluorescent film. Unlike the commonly adopted direct-coating method, the film was fabricated by the physical immobilization of the fluorophore, CholG-3T-Py, onto a glass plate surface via preformed low-molecular-mass gelator (LMMGs)-based molecular-gel networks. The photophysical behavior of the film as prepared and its sensing performances to nitrobenzene (NB) were conducted after activation with toluene. It was found that the film as prepared and activated is sensitive to the presence of NB, and the sensing process is fully reversible. Furthermore, the effects of commonly found interferents, including structural analogues, raw materials, which are commonly used for the production of NB, and other nitroaromatics (NACs), on the sensing process were also tested. It was shown that only aniline and phenol possess slight interference. The present work not only extends the applications of LMMGs-based molecular gels but also provids a new approach for preparation of micro- and nano-structure-based fluorescent sensing films.

Visual-size molecular recognition based on gels

Since their discovery, stimuli-responsive organogels have garnered considerable and increasing attention from a broad range of research fields. In consideration of an one-dimensional ordered relay in anisotropic phase, the assembled gel networks can amplify various properties of the functional moieties possessed by the gelator molecules. Recently, substantial efforts have been focused on the development of facile, straightforward, and low-cost molecular recognition approaches by using nanostructured gel matrices as visual sensing platforms. In this research news, the recent progresses in macroscopic or visual-size molecular recognition for a number of homologues, isomers, and anions, as well as extremely challenging chiral enantiomers, using polymer and molecular gels are reviewed. Several strategies--including guest molecular competition, hydrogen-bonding blocking, and metal-coordination--for visual discrimination are included. Finally, the future trends and potential application in facile visual-size molecular recognition based on organogel matrices are highlighted.

Selective and efficient detection of nitro-aromatic explosives in multiple media including water, micelles, organogel, and solid support

Selective detection of nitro-aromatic compounds (NACs) at nanomolar concentration is achieved for the first time in multiple media including water, micelles or in organogels as well as using test strips. Mechanism of interaction of NACs with highly fluorescent p-phenylenevinylene-based molecules has been described as the electron transfer phenomenon from the electron-rich chromophoric probe to the electron deficient NACs. The selectivity in sensing is guided by the pKa of the probes as well as the NACs under consideration. TNP-induced selective gel-to-sol transition in THF medium is also observed through the reorganization of molecular self-assembly and the portable test trips are made successfully for rapid on-site detection purpose.

Pyoverdine secreted by Pseudomonas aeruginosa as a biological recognition element for the fluorescent detection of furazolidone

Methods for the rapid and sensitive detection of furazolidone, a pesticide used for the treatment of infections of animals and human beings, have been urgently recommended for its large residual, strong carcinogenicity and genotoxicity in the environment. In this study, a method for the detection of furazolidone based on the rapid fluorescence quenching of pyoverdine by furazolidone was developed. Pyoverdine secreted by a Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PA1 was purified through affinity chromatography and its fluorescent property was characterized. The fluorescence of pyoverdine could be quenched by furazolidone with specificity, and based on this phenomenon a fluorescent method for furazolidone detection was established. Fluorescence of pyoverdine was quenched by furazolidone probably due to the electron transfer from pyoverdine to furazolidone. The optimal pH for the detection was 7.2 in 50 mM 3-(N-Morpholino) propanesulfonic acid solution, and the whole detection process could be completed within a few seconds. The linear range of the detection was 2-160 µM and the limit of detection (LOD) was 0.5 µM. This study developed a novel fluorescent method for furazolidone detection, and the rapid and specific fluorescent biosensor can be potentially applied for furazolidone detection in the aquatic samples.

Co-assembled white-light-emitting hydrogel of melamine

A coassembled light-harvesting hydrogel of melamine (M), 6,7-dimethoxy-2,4[1H, 3H]-quinazolinedione (Q) with riboflavin (R), is used to produce a white-light-emitting hydrogel (W-gel) by mixing with the dye rhodamine B (RhB) in a requisite proportion. Addition of R to the Q solution causes both static and dynamic quenching to the emission of Q as evident from the Stern-Volmer plot and the emission of R shows a gradual increase in intensity. On addition of RhB to an aqueous solution of R, fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) occurs, showing an emission peak at 581 nm. In a solution of constant molar ratio of Q and R, addition of RhB causes a quenching of emission of R with no effect on the emission of Q, indicating that the energy transfer takes place only between R and RhB. In the MQR coassembled hydrogel containing RhB, the gel melting temperature is lower than those of MQ and MQR gel, but the storage modulus remains almost unaffected. The oscillatory stress experiment indicates a gradual decrease of critical stress values for breaking of MQ, MQR, and W-gels attributed to the coassembly. In contrast to the solution of Q and R, energy transfer occurs on addition of RhB to the MQ gel. By varying the RhB and R concentration in the 1:1 MQ gel white light emission is observed for the W-gel composition having molar ratio of M:Q:R:RhB = 100:100:0.5:0.02 with the Commission Internationale de L'eclairage (CIE) coordinates of 0.31 and 0.36 for the excitation at 360 nm. However, in the sol state, the CIE coordinates of the hybrid differ significantly from those of the white light.

Conjugated amplifying polymers for optical sensing applications

Thanks to their unique optical and electrochemical properties, conjugated polymers have attracted considerable attention over the last two decades and resulted in numerous technological innovations. In particular, their implementation in sensing schemes and devices was widely investigated and produced a multitude of sensory systems and transduction mechanisms. Conjugated polymers possess numerous attractive features that make them particularly suitable for a broad variety of sensing tasks. They display sensory signal amplification (compared to their small-molecule counterparts) and their structures can easily be tailored to adjust solubility, absorption/emission wavelengths, energy offsets for excited state electron transfer, and/or for use in solution or in the solid state. This versatility has made conjugated polymers a fluorescence sensory platform of choice in the recent years. In this review, we highlight a variety of conjugated polymer-based sensory mechanisms together with selected examples from the recent literature.

Attogram detection of picric acid by hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene-based chemosensors by controlled aggregation-induced emission enhancement

Hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene (HBC) based molecules 5 and 6 have been designed and synthesized. These planar coronenes are appended with rotors to invoke aggregation induced emission enhancement (AIEE) phenomenon by controlling the ratio of H2O in solutions of aggregates. These aggregates of HBC derivatives serve as highly selective chemosensors for picric acid (PA) in mixed aqueous solution. These aggregates are also able to detect PA in vapor phase. In addition, fluorescent test strips have been prepared by dip-coating the Whatman paper with aggregates of both compounds for trace detection of PA in contact mode with detection limits in attograms.

Molecular sensing: modulating molecular conduction through intermolecular interactions

We observe changes in the molecular conductivity of individual oligophenylene-vinylene (OPV) molecules due to interactions with small aromatic molecules. Fluorescence experiments were correlated with scanning tunneling microscopy measurements in order to determine the origin of the observed effect. Both nitrobenzene and 1,4-dinitrobenzene decreased fluorescence intensity and molecular conductivity, while toluene had no effect. The observed changes in the fluorescence and conduction of OPV correlate well with the electron withdrawing ability of the interacting aromatic molecules. These results demonstrate the potential usefulness of OPV as a sensor for aromatic compounds containing electron withdrawing groups.

Synthesis, optical properties and explosive sensing performances of a series of novel π-conjugated aromatic end-capped oligothiophenes

Four novel terthiophene (3T) derivatives, have been synthesized by employing Grignard coupling reaction via end-capping of naphthyl (NA) or pyrenyl (Py) unit to the one or two ends of 3T. It has been shown that both increasing electron donating strength and extending conjugation are effective approaches to improve the photochemical stability of the oligothiophene. Fluorescence studies demonstrated that the emission of the 3T derivatives is sensitive to the presence of some important nitro-containing explosives in their ethanol solution, in particular, 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (PA) and 3,5-dinitro-2,6-bispicrylamino pyridine (PYX). As an example, the detection limits of 4 to PA and PYX were determined to be 6.21 × 10(-7)mol/L and 8.95 × 10(-7)mol/L, respectively. Based on the discovery, a colorimetric detection method has been developed. The sensitive and selective response of the modified 3T to the explosives have been tentatively attributed to the adsorptive affinity of the compounds to the explosives, and to the higher probability of the electron transfer from the electron-rich 3T derivatives to the electron-poor nitro-containing explosives. No doubt, present study broadens the family of fluorophores which may be employed for the development of fluorescent sensors.

Self-assembled pentacenequinone derivative for trace detection of picric acid

Pentacenequinone derivative 3 forms luminescent supramolecular aggregates both in bulk as well as in solution phase. In bulk phase at high temperature, long-range stacking of columns leads to formation of stable and ordered columnar mesophase. Further, derivative 3 works as sensitive chemosensor for picric acid (PA) and gel-coated paper strips detect PA at nanomolar level and provide a simple, portable, and low-cost method for detection of PA in aqueous solution, vapor phase, and in contact mode.

Highly selective and sensitive fluorescent paper sensor for nitroaromatic explosive detection

Rapid, sensitive, and selective detection of explosives such as 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (TNP), especially using a facile paper sensor, is in high demand for homeland security and public safety. Although many strategies have been successfully developed for the detection of TNT, it is not easy to differentiate the influence from TNP. Also, few methods were demonstrated for the selective detection of TNP. In this work, via a facile and versatile method, 8-hydroxyquinoline aluminum (Alq(3))-based bluish green fluorescent composite nanospheres were successfully synthesized through self-assembly under vigorous stirring and ultrasonic treatment. These polymer-coated nanocomposites are not only water-stable but also highly luminescent. Based on the dramatic and selective fluorescence quenching of the nanocomposites via adding TNP into the aqueous solution, a sensitive and robust platform was developed for visual detection of TNP in the mixture of nitroaromatics including TNT, 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT), and nitrobenzene (NB). Meanwhile, the fluorescence intensity is proportional to the concentration of TNP in the range of 0.05-7.0 μg/mL with the 3σ limit of detection of 32.3 ng/mL. By handwriting or finger printing with TNP solution as ink on the filter paper soaked with the fluorescent nanocomposites, the bluish green fluorescence was instantly and dramatically quenched and the dark patterns were left on the paper. Therefore, a convenient and rapid paper sensor for TNP-selective detection was fabricated.

Vapor-phase detection of trinitrotoluene by AIEE-active hetero-oligophenylene-based carbazole derivatives

New AIEE-active hetero-oligophenylene carbazole derivatives 3 and 4 have been synthesized and serve as fluorescent probes for the selective detection of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) in the vapor phase, the solid phase, and aqueous media. In addition, paper strips prepared by dip-coating a solution of aggregates of derivatives 3 and 4 can provide a simple, portable, sensitive, selective, low-cost method for the detection of TNT on the picogram level.

Oligo(p-phenylene-ethynylene)-derived super-π-gelators with tunable emission and self-assembled polymorphic structures

Linear π-conjugated oligomers are known to form organogels through noncovalent interactions. Herein, we report the effect of π-repeat units on the gelation and morphological properties of three different oligo(p-phenylene-ethynylene)s: OPE3, OPE5, and OPE7. All of these molecules form fluorescent gels in nonpolar solvents at low critical gel concentrations, thereby resulting in a blue gel for OPE3, a green gel for OPE5, and a greenish yellow gel for OPE7. The molecule-molecule and molecule-substrate interactions in these OPEs are strongly influenced by the conjugation length of the molecules. Silicon wafer suppresses substrate-molecule interactions whereas a mica surface facilitates such interactions. At lower concentrations, OPE3 formed vesicular assemblies and OPE5 gave entangled fibers, whereas OPE7 resulted in spiral assemblies on a mica surface. At higher concentrations, OPE3 and OPE5 resulted in super-bundles of fibers and flowerlike short-fiber agglomerates when different conditions were applied. The number of polymorphic structures increases on increasing the conjugation length, as seen in the case of OPE7 with n=5, which resulted in a variety of exotic structures, the formation of which could be controlled by varying the substrate, concentration, and humidity.