Photosciences and Photonics Group, Chemical Sciences and Technology Division, National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology, CSIR, Trivandrum 695 019, India.
J Am Chem Soc. 2012 Mar 14;134(10):4834-41. doi: 10.1021/ja210728c. Epub 2012 Mar 5.
Detection of explosives is of utmost importance due to the threat to human security as a result of illegal transport and terrorist activities. Trinitrotoluene (TNT) is a widely used explosive in landmines and military operations that contaminates the environment and groundwater, posing a threat to human health. Achieving the detection of explosives at a sub-femtogram level using a molecular sensor is a challenge. Herein we demonstrate that a fluorescent organogelator exhibits superior detection capability for TNT in the gel form when compared to that in the solution state. The gel when coated on disposable paper strips detects TNT at a record attogram (ag, 10(-18) g) level (∼12 ag/cm(2)) with a detection limit of 0.23 ppq. This is a simple and low-cost method for the detection of TNT on surfaces or in aqueous solutions in a contact mode, taking advantage of the unique molecular packing of an organogelator and the associated photophysical properties.
由于非法运输和恐怖活动对人类安全构成威胁，爆炸物的检测至关重要。三硝基甲苯（TNT）是地雷和军事行动中广泛使用的一种爆炸物，它会污染环境和地下水，对人类健康构成威胁。使用分子传感器实现亚皮克级（飞克级）的爆炸物检测是一个挑战。在此，我们证明了一种荧光有机凝胶剂在凝胶状态下对 TNT 的检测能力优于其在溶液状态下的检测能力。当涂覆在一次性纸条上时，该凝胶以创纪录的皮克（ag，10^(-18)g）级（约 12 ag/cm^2）检测到 TNT，检测限为 0.23 ppq。这是一种简单且低成本的方法，可通过接触模式在表面或水溶液中检测 TNT，利用有机凝胶剂的独特分子堆积和相关的光物理性质。
