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Updated: May 9, 2026

Chemiluminescence-based Assays for Detection of Nitric Oxide and its Derivatives from Autoxidation and Nitrosated Compounds
Published on: February 16, 2022
ZnO nanowires as effective luminescent sensing materials for nitroaromatic derivatives
Roy Aad1, Vesna Simic, Loïc Le Cunff
1Laboratoire de Nanotechnologie et d'Instrumentation Optique, Institut Charles Delaunay, CNRS UMR 6279, Université de Technologie de Troyes, 12 rue Marie Curie, BP 2060, 10010 Troyes Cedex, France. roy.aad@utt.fr lerondel@utt.fr.
Abstract:
We report on the efficient room-temperature photoluminescence (PL) quenching of ZnO in the presence of 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT) vapor and for concentration as low as 180 ppb. Compared to ZnO thin films, ZnO nanowires exhibit a strong (95%) and fast (41 s) quenching of the PL intensity in the presence of DNT vapor. Assuming that the PL quenching is due to a trapping of the ZnO excitons by adsorbed DNT molecules, Monte-Carlo calculations show that the nanometric dimensions as well as the better crystallographic quality (longer mean free path) of the ZnO nanowires result in an enhanced trapping process at the origin of the improved sensing properties of the nanowires. The results demonstrate the importance of nanostructures in improving the sensitivity of ZnO. The study also reveals the sensing capability of ZnO nanowires and paves the path towards the potential realization of low-cost sub-ppb nitroaromatic derivative sensors.
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