Cucurbit[8]uril-modulated discrete pyrene dimers fluorescent sensor for nitroaromatic compounds and latent fingerprints visualization

• Published in: Sensors and actuators. B, Chemical Vol. 418; p. 136312
• Main Authors: He, Jiao, Pu, Zheng-Hong, Dai, Xue, Bai, Qing-Hong, Tao, Zhu, Xiao, Xin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.11.2024
• Subjects: Cucurbituril; Fluorescent sensor; Latent fingerprints; Pyrene dimers; Fluorescent sensor; Latent fingerprints; Pyrene dimers; Cucurbituril
• ISSN: 0925-4005; 1873-3077
• DOI: 10.1016/j.snb.2024.136312

As a promising class of luminescent materials, π-conjugated organic aromatic molecules are usually subject to aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) effect, which limits their wide application. Currently, obtaining structurally visualized solid luminescent materials of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) without complex synthetic purification steps remains a challenging topic. Herein, we focus on the supramolecular assembly strategy to constructed a solid fluorescent material (HPTS@Q[8]@Rb+) by co-assembling cucurbit[8]uril (Q[8]) with 8-hydroxypyrene-1,3,6-trisulfonic acid trisodium salt (HPTS) and rubidium ions based on the coordination and outer surface interactions of Q[8]. HPTS@Q[8]@Rb+ exhibited good fluorescence properties with quantum yields of 2.28 % and 73.15 % in solid state and aqueous suspensions, respectively, providing a good sensing platform for nitroaromatic compounds (NACs), especially for 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (PA) and 4-nitroaniline (4-NA) with remarkable quenching constants (KSV=4.06×104 M−1 for PA and KSV=2.95×104 M−1 for 4-NA) in working range of 0–3.33×104 M and 0–5.0×104 M, respectively. Moreover, a fluorescent fingerprint powder was prepared by combining montmorillonite (MMT) for high-resolution visualization of latent fingerprints (LFPs) without substrate limitation. This study demonstrates the synthesis of Q[n]-based fluorescent material, the anion-rich aromatic compounds can be used as potential moieties for assembly with Q[n], providing a facile and promising approach to develop PAHs-based luminescent materials. This supramolecular self-assembly strategy provides a fundamental design principle for the creation of diverse functional crystalline solid materials. [Display omitted] •Discrete pyrene dimers fluorescent material was constructed based on coordination and outer surface interactions of Q[8].•HPTS@Q[8]@Rb+ provided a good sensing platform for NACs.•A composite fingerprint powder prepared for LFPs visualization applications.•The supramolecular co-assembly strategy provides a design principle fabricating crystalline fluorescent materials