Aggregation‐directed High Fidelity Sensing of Picric Acid by a Perylenediimide‐based Luminogen. Issue 24 (17th November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pramanik, Bapan; Das, Saurav; Das, Debapratim
• Is Part Of: Chemistry, an Asian journal. Volume 15:Issue 24(2020)
• Page Start: 4291
• Page End: 4296
• Publication Date: 2020-11-17
• Subjects: perylenediimide -- picric acid -- chemosensor -- aggregation caused quenching -- explosive sensor; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540.5
• DOI: 10.1002/asia.202001184
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1861-4728

Abstract

Abstract: Widespread use of picric acid (PA) in chemical industries and deadly explosives poses dreadful impact on all living creatures as well as the natural environment and has raised global concerns that necessitate the development of fast and efficient sensing platforms. To address this issue, herein, we report a perylenediimide‐peptide conjugate, PDI‐1, for detection of PA in methanol. The probe displays typical aggregation caused quenching (ACQ) behaviour and exhibits a fluorescence "turn‐off" sensory response towards PA which is unaffected by the presence of other interfering nitroaromatic compounds. The sensing mechanism involves PA induced aggregation of the probe into higher order tape like structures which leads to quenching of emission. The probe possesses a low detection limit of 5.6 nM or 1.28 ppb and a significantly high Stern‐Volmer constant of 6.87×10 4 M −1 . It also exhibits conducting properties in the presence of PA vapours and thus represents a prospective candidate for vapour phase detection of PA. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first example of a perylenediimide based probe that demonstrates extremely specific, selective and sensitive detection of PA and thus grasps the potential for application in practical scenarios. Abstract : A perylenediimide based highly fluorescent probe is presented that displays excellent selectivity and sensitivity towards picric acid. The luminogen binds specifically with picric acid over other nitroaromatics through hydrogen bonding interactions and shows emission "turn‐off" signal owing to morphological evolution of higher order tape‐like aggregates.