Fluorescent chemo-sensors based on "dually smart" optical micro/nano-waveguides lithographically fabricated with AIE composite resins. Issue 7 (30th April 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Qian, Meng-Dan; Sun, Yun-Lu; Hu, Zhi-Yong; Fang, Xiao-Feng; Zhu, Jin-Long; Fan, Xudong; Liao, Qing; Wu, Chang-Feng; Sun, Hong-Bo
• Is Part Of: Materials horizons. Volume 7:Issue 7(2020)
• Page Start: 1782
• Page End: 1789
• Publication Date: 2020-04-30
• Subjects: Materials -- Research -- Periodicals; 543.0284
• DOI: 10.1039/d0mh00249f
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2051-6347

Abstract

Abstract : Single/two-photon-lithographically fabricated "smart" active micro/nano-optics are composed of covalently co-crosslinked SU-8/AIEoxe for the on-chip-integratable direct detection of various VOCs in aqueous solution. Abstract : Novel high-performance non-labeled fluoro-sensing micro/nano-optics require lithographically fabricable stimuli-fluorescence transductive materials well-tailored in molecular levels, towards superior processibility, stability, sensitivity, on-chip integration and portability, and real-time and in situ analysis. Here, aggregation-induced-emission fluorophores with oxetane groups (AIEoxes) and their covalently co-crosslinkable epoxy composites are customized for the fabrication of micro/nano-devices via single/multi-photon lithography. The oxetane modification increases the AIEoxe miscibility in the epoxy matrix (doping ratio up to 10 wt%), and consequently improves the as-formed devices' quality, stability, and fluorescence intensity and sensitivity. The multi-color-AIEoxe polymeric micro/nano-devices allow fluorescence-resonance-energy-transfer among AIEoxes, which enables sensitive and specifically spectral detection of VOCs. With the micro/nano-waveguide configuration, solvent-responsive AIE fluorescence and evanescent-field/refractive-index sensing enhance the AIE-fluorescent detection of trace organic solvents in aqueous solutions (detection limit, ∼0.004% v/v, tetrahydrofuran/water) and their facile integration in functional micro/nano-systems like optofluidics.