Ultrasensitive and portable fluorescence polyurethane indicator paper for real-time, visual and selective detection of 2,4,6-trinitrophenol

Abstract

Visual and selective detection of 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (TNP) for public and environmental protection is an extremely urgent issue and challenge. Herein, a novel fluorescence polyurethane (FPU) has been successfully synthesized and exploited for selective TNP-detection in coexistence with other commonly competitive nitroaromatic analytes. Excellent recognition ability of FPU toward TNP could reach as low as 0.12 μM and the observed fluorescence responses of FPU are exceptional stable to acid, alkali, and salt. Furthermore, a portable, cost effective, and simple indicator paper depending on FPU for visual detection of TNP is developed. FPU indicator paper exhibits two unique advantages: one is the higher selectivity for TNP detection, the other is realizing the rapid and visual explosives detection. The detection mechanism is described for the synergies in the photoelectron transfer (PET), the fluorescence internal filtration effect (IFE) and the fluorescence energy transfer (FRET). This work provides a novel guidance for the design of fluorescent polymers with portable, cost effective, and visual detection of TNP.

Keywords

• Fluorescence detection
• Polyurethane
• Trinitrophenol
• Indicator paper