Colorimetric Detection of Nitroaromatics Using Organic Photochromic Compounds

An organic photochromic compound is explored as a new portable colorimetric sensor for nitroaromatics. This photochromic compound switches from colourless to pink upon exposure to ultraviolet light. In the presence of nitroaromatic explosive derivatives the photoswitching behaviour of the dithienyle...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inAustralian journal of chemistry Vol. 68; no. 11; p. 1723
Main Authors Vamvounis, George, Sandery, Nicholas
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published 2015
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary:An organic photochromic compound is explored as a new portable colorimetric sensor for nitroaromatics. This photochromic compound switches from colourless to pink upon exposure to ultraviolet light. In the presence of nitroaromatic explosive derivatives the photoswitching behaviour of the dithienylethene is suppressed, while a potential false positive (toluene) has little effect. The degree of photoswitching inhibition was determined by comparing the integrated visible absorption with the concentration of the analyte to give the pseudo Stern–Volmer constant (KPSV). The KPSVs measured varied from 12900 (p-nitrotoluene) to 236 M–1 (toluene), which were directly related to the analyte absorption at the excitation wavelength.
ISSN:0004-9425
DOI:10.1071/CH15337