A Self-Accelerating Naphthalimide-Based Probe Coupled with Upconversion Nanoparticles for Ultra-Accurate Tri-Mode...

The design and development of ultra-accurate probe is of great significance to chemical sensing in complex practical scenarios. Here, a self-accelerating naphthalimide-based probe with fast response and high sensitivity toward hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) is designed. By coupling with the specially selected upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs), an ultra-accurate colorimetric-fluorescent-upconversion luminescence (UCL) tri-mode platform is constructed. Owing to the promoted reaction process, this platform demonstrates rapid response (< 1 s), an ultra-low detection limit (4.34 nM), and superb anti-interferent ability even in presence of > 21 types of oxidants, explosives, metallic salts, daily compounds, colorful or fluorescent substances. In addition, the effectiveness of this design is further verified by a sponge-based sensing chip loaded with the UCNPs/probe in recognizing trace H₂O₂ vapor from interferents with the three characteristic colors existing simultaneously. The proposed design of probe and tri-mode visualization detection platform is expected to open up a brand-new methodology for ultra-accurate sensing.