Polycyclic aromatic-based fluorescent probes: Color properties and fluorimetric detection of nitroaromatic explosives

Detection of nitroaromatic explosives (NAEs) is very important in terms of national security as well as the damage they cause to living things and the environment. The precision detection of these is a very important issue to reduce their harmful effects and take the necessary precautions. Electron-rich polyaromatic fluorescent materials are highly sensitive and selective in the detection of NAEs in terms of their fluorometric quenching abilities. Three imine compounds (A-C) containing pyrene, anthracene or naphthalene moieties were prepared and used as fluorescent probes for fluorescence detection of NAEs. The sensing abilities of materials characterized by traditional methods were investigated. The quenching-increasing constant Ksv was calculated by using the Stern-Volmer plot obtained from the interaction of materials with nitroaromatic. Limits of detection (LOD) values were calculated for the compounds using these data. While the quenching effect of nitro aromatic compounds was expected on fluorescent materials, increased emission was observed due to aggregation. Compound A was sensitive to Picric acid thanks to lowest LOD (38.59 mu M), while compounds B and C nitrobenzene thanks to lowest LOD value (22.32 and 36.93 mu M, respectively). In addition, color measurements (CIE standards) and Color temperature (CCT) of the compounds were calculated.