Formaldehyde sensing by fluorescent organic sensors

Formaldehyde is a simple molecule that can be found in different environments, having several toxic effects on both the environment and, unfortunately, humans. Therefore, the development of formaldehyde detection methods is fundamental. For this purpose, optical sensors are used, which are practical, fast and easy-to-use devices. The ideal sensor should exhibit high selectivity, sensitivity and short response time. This review summarizes the recent development in this field, highlighting the sensing properties of the systems in terms of sensitivity, selectivity and limit of detection. A comparison between the reported sensors in terms of efficiency of detection mechanisms and optical performance of different fluorophores is provided. Future perspectives of formaldehyde detection by optical probes are also provided, focusing on the current limitations that should be solved to obtain an ideal formaldehyde sensor.