Ultrafast fluorescence probe to H₂O₂ vapor based on organic-inorganic hybrid silica nanoparticles

A kind of organic-inorganic hybrid silica nanoparticles loaded with 1,8-naphthalimide borate ester (NIB@SiO₂) was used to detect trace hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) vapor via turn-off mechanism. The detailed studies showed that utilizing silica nanoparticles can improve the adsorption properties and hydrophilicity of the sensing film, accelerate the deboronation reaction between the sensing material and H₂O_2, and then shorten the response time successively, which is always the disturbing challenge for this deboronation-type fluorescent probe to H₂O₂ vapor. The fluorescence of NIB@SiO₂ film was quenched greatly under H₂O₂ saturated vapor within 5 s at room temperature and limit of detection (LOD) was estimated to be 184 ppt, which are among the best reported results. Thus, this study provides an ultrafast and highly sensitive organic-inorganic hybrid fluorescent probe to H₂O₂ vapor, moreover, a new design strategy for promising H₂O₂ fluorescent probe is revealed.