Sensitive and fast fluorescence-based indirect sensing of TATP

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Chemical Sensing

Background:

• Triacetone triperoxide (TATP) is a potent explosive.
• Sensitive and selective detection of TATP vapors is crucial for security applications.
• Existing detection methods often lack sensitivity or require complex instrumentation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel fluorescence-based sensor for TATP vapor detection.
• To achieve high sensitivity and selectivity by targeting the decomposition product, hydrogen peroxide.
• To utilize a fluorescence
• turn-on
• mechanism for signal generation.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of novel fluorenylboronate esters with electron-withdrawing substituents (2,4-difluorophenyl and 4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl).
• Fabrication of solid-state films for sensing applications.
• Exploitation of the conversion of boronate esters to phenoxides under basic conditions upon reaction with hydrogen peroxide.
• Utilizing selective excitation of phenoxide anions to avoid background fluorescence.

Main Results:

• Achieved high sensitivity detection of TATP vapors via hydrogen peroxide.
• Demonstrated a fluorescence
• turn-on
• mechanism.
• The derivative with the 4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl moiety exhibited the most stable phenoxide and fastest kinetics.
• Achieved a lower limit of detection of approximately 2.5 ppb within 60 seconds.
• Observed enhanced photostability due to electron-withdrawing substituents.

Conclusions:

• The developed fluorenylboronate ester-based sensor offers a sensitive and selective method for TATP vapor detection.
• The fluorescence
• turn-on
• mechanism and selective excitation are key to the sensor's performance.
• The sensor shows promise for practical applications in explosive detection and security.