Open AccessHighly Photostable and Luminescent Donor–Acceptor Molecules for Ultrasensitive Detection of Sulfur Mustard
Author(s) -
Cui Linfeng,
Gong Yanjun,
Cheng Chuanqin,
Guo Yongxian,
Xiong Wei,
Ji Hongwei,
Jiang Lang,
Zhao Jincai,
Che Yanke
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
advanced science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.388
H-Index - 100
ISSN - 2198-3844
DOI - 10.1002/advs.202002615
Subject(s) - sulfur mustard , sulfur , luminescence , photochemistry , molecule , acceptor , chemistry , nanotechnology , materials science , organic chemistry , optoelectronics , toxicity , physics , condensed matter physics
Abstract Real‐time, high signal intensity, and prolonged detection is challenging because of the rarity of fluorophores with both high photostability and luminescence efficiency. In this work, new donor–acceptor (D–A) molecules for overcoming these limitations are reported. A hybridized local and an intramolecular charge‐transfer excited state is demonstrated to afford high photoluminescence efficiency of these D–A molecules in solution (≈100%). The twisted molecular structure and bulky alkyl chains effectively suppress π – π and dipole–dipole interactions, enabling high luminescence efficiency of 1 and 2 in the solid state (≈94% and 100%). Furthermore, two D–A aggregates exhibit high photostability as evidenced by 4% and 8% of the fluorescence decreasing after 6 h of continuous irradiation in air, which is in sharp contrast to ≈95% of fluorescence decreasing in a reference compound. Importantly, with these molecules, ultrasensitive detection of sulfur mustard (SM) with a record limit of 10 ppb and selective detection of SM in complex matrices are achieved.