Nanowerk August 12, 2021
Most existing techniques to detect nitroaromatic compounds cannot be used in practical situations. Conventional methods available for the formulation of aggregation-induced emission (AIE) polymers are highly complicated, involving multi-step purification processes, proving detrimental in the application of AIE polymer-based probes. Researchers in South Korea have developed a single step protocol that produces tetraphenylethylene-hyperbranched polyglycidol (TPE-HPG) polymer solution that is added to water for formation of bright blue fluorescent TPE-HPG aggregated nanoparticles. Through empirical analysis, the researchers observed that the strong blue fluorescence of these nanoparticles is quenched by almost 95% on addition of 90 µM concentration of picric acid (PA). The minimum concentration of PA that can be detected using TPE-HPG nanoparticles is 40 parts per billion. They immobilized the TPE-HPG nanoparticles on strips of paper by following a simple dip and dry process. The paper-based sensors emitted bright blue fluorescence under UV light, which was progressively quenched on addition of higher concentrations of PA…read more. TECHNICAL ARTICLE
Graphical abstract. Credit: Dyes and Pigments, Volume 194, October 2021, 109617Â