F127/conjugated polymers fluorescent micelles for trace detection of nitroaromatic explosives

The cost-effective and rapid detection of nitroaromatic explosives is highly desired for growing con cern about the environmental pollution and terror threats. Herein, a facile sensing system for fast and trace detection of nitroaromatic explosives (e.g. picric acid (PA) and 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT)) in aqueous solution is developed. In this system, the self-assembled nanomicelles of commercial available Pluronic F127 are selected as vesicles and fluorescent conjugated polymers poly(9,9 '-dioctylfluorene) (PFO) and poly(2,7-(9,9-hexylfluorene)-alt-4,4 '-phenylether) (PFPE) are used as sensing materials. Through the microextraction effect of F127 nanomicelles, the hydrophobic conjugated polymers can be well dispersed in aqueous media and effectively quenched by trace amount of PA or DNT based on electron transfer mechanism. In compare with the conjugated polymers dissolved in organic solvents, the conjugated polymers encapsulated in F127 nanomicelles show dramatically enhanced sensing selectivity and sensitivity. The current nitroaromatic explosives sensing system is versatile. These results suggest that the F127/conjugated polymers system is a feasible method for detecting nitroaromatic explosives in water. (c) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.