Department of Chemistry and Research Institute of Natural Sciences, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 660-701 (Korea), Fax: (+82) 55-772-1488.
Chemistry. 2013 Dec 2;19(49):16665-71. doi: 10.1002/chem.201301507. Epub 2013 Nov 6.
There is an ongoing need for explosive detection strategies to uncover threats to human security including illegal transport and terrorist activities. The widespread military use of the explosive trinitrotoluene (TNT) for landmines poses another particular threat to human health in the form of contamination of the surrounding environment and groundwater. The detection of explosives, particularly at low picogram levels, by using a molecular sensor is seen as an important challenge. Herein, we report on the use of a fluorescent metal-organic framework hydrogel that exhibits a higher detection capability for TNT in the gel state compared with that in the solution state. A portable sensor prepared from filter paper coated by the hydrogel was able to detect TNT at the picogram level with a detection limit of 1.82 ppt (parts per trillon). Our results present a simple and new means to provide selective detection of TNT on a surface or in aqueous solution, as afforded by the unique molecular packing through the metal-organic framework structure in the gel formation and the associated photophysical properties. Furthermore, the rheological properties of the MOF-based gel were similar to those of a typical hydrogel.
目前，人们迫切需要探测爆炸物的策略，以发现对人类安全的威胁，包括非法运输和恐怖活动。爆炸物三硝基甲苯（TNT）被广泛用于地雷，这对周围环境和地下水的污染构成了另一种特别的健康威胁。使用分子传感器探测爆炸物，特别是在皮克级水平下探测爆炸物，被认为是一项重要的挑战。在此，我们报告了使用荧光金属-有机骨架水凝胶的情况，该水凝胶在凝胶状态下对 TNT 的检测能力比在溶液状态下更高。由水凝胶涂覆的滤纸制备的便携式传感器能够在皮克级水平检测 TNT，检测限为 1.82ppt（每万亿份的份数）。我们的结果提供了一种简单而新颖的方法，通过凝胶形成过程中的金属-有机骨架结构以及相关的光物理特性，提供了在表面或水溶液中对 TNT 的选择性检测。此外，基于 MOF 的凝胶的流变性能与典型的水凝胶相似。
