Exceptional Blueshifted and Enhanced Aggregation‐Induced Emission of Conjugated Asymmetric Triazines and Their Applications in Superamplified Detection of Explosives

A novel conjugated asymmetric donor–acceptor (CADA) strategy for preventing the redshift in photoluminescence, as well as preserving the merits of donor–acceptor architectures, was proposed and demonstrated for two triazine derivatives, which showed highly efficient, narrow, and blueshifted ultraviolet light emission in solid films along with special aggregation‐induced emission behavior. A mechanism of aggregation‐induced locally excited‐state emission by suppressing the twisted intramolecular charge‐transfer emission for the spectacular optoelectronic phenomena of these CADA molecules was suggested on the basis of both experimental measurements and theoretical calculations. By taking advantage of this special CADA architecture, fluorescent probes based on aggregates of conjugated asymmetric triazines in THF/water for the detection of explosives show superamplified detection of picric acid with high quenching constants (>1.0×10⁷ M ^?1) and a low detection limit of 15 ppb.     

Hybrid film of chemically modified graphene and vapor-phase-polymerized PEDOT for electronic nose applications

A hybrid of graphene and conducting polymer holds great potential as the active materials for high performance chemical sensor application. In this work, a thin hybrid film of reduced graphene oxide (RG-O) and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) was fabricated by means of vapor phase polymerization and explored as active material for chemical sensors. The chemical sensors based on hybrid film of RG-O and PEDOT are capable of detecting electrical signals caused by the absorption of trace levels of different analyte vapors with high sensitivity, selectivity and fast response.     

Ionic electroactive polymer metal composites: Fabricating,modeling, and applications of postsilicon smart devices

Smart systems adapt to the surrounding environments in a number of ways. They are capable to scavenge energy from available sources, sense and elaborate external stimuli and adequately react. Electro Active Polymers are playing a main role in the realization of smart systems for applications if fields such as bio inspired and autonomous robotics, medicine, and aerospace. This paper focus on the possibility to use Ionic Polymer Metal Composites as a class of materials relevant to the realization of post silicon smart systems. The three main aspects of this new technology, i.e., fabrication methods, modeling, and applications are described with emphasis to most recent results. Attention is given to main challenges and shortcomings to be solved for technology, modelling, and control of IPMC based devices that need to be solved before this new technology can be fully exploited in real world applications. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2013     

Quadruply BN-Fused Tetrathia[8]circulenes with Flexible Frameworks: Synthesis,Structures and Properties

Quadruply BN-fused tetrathia[8]circulenes were synthesized through four-fold electrophilic borylation. The single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the BN-fused tetrathia[8]circulene with peripheral phenyl groups exhibits crystal polymorphism, in which the circulene core adopts both planar and saddle conformations in the solid state. The experimental and theoretical studies revealed that the weaker aromaticity of azaborine compared with benzene renders the flexibility of the BN-fused tetrathia[8]circulenes.     

Electrochemical Detection of Hemoglobin: A Review

Hemoglobin (Hb) is a tetrameric hemoprotein that is located in red blood cells (RBCs) and is responsible for O₂ transport in the circulatory system. Conventionally, Hb assay is a specific and sensitive indicator for the diagnosis of anemia and other related diseases. To date, various methods have been used for the analysis of Hb, and of these, electrochemical method is the simplest and reliable technique. Therefore, several approaches have been reported for the quantification of Hb, including the direct electron transfer (DET) with or without a mediator onto the electrode surface, molecular imprinted polymer (MIPs), and immunoreaction. To realize the direct electrochemistry of Hb, the modification of the electrode surface either with a mediator or catalyst to promote the redox process, which can be applied for the sensitive and selective detection of Hb. This review contains a comprehensive introduction to electrochemical Hb detection methods using modified electrode surfaces. Finally, the review gives a brief insight into the electrochemical sensing platform developed for the analysis of other type of globins such as, myoglobin and glycated hemoglobin. The objectives of this review are to summarize various electrochemical detection methods for Hb and to facilitate future development of new sensing platforms for the medical and healthcare applications.     

Implication of molecular orientation on charge transport and gas sensing characteristics of cobalt–phthalocyanine thin films

Charge transport and gas sensing characteristics of cobalt phthalocyanine films deposited along (ATB) and perpendicular (PTB) to the natural twin boundaries of (0 0 1) LaAlO₃ substrate have been investigated. The charge carrier mobility of ATB films (∼5 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹) is five orders of magnitude higher compared to that of PTB films (∼7 × 10⁻⁵ cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹), suggesting that twin boundaries acts like a template for ordering of molecules. The ATB films on exposure to ammonia showed a reversible increase of resistance, with fast response and recovery. In contrast PTB films showed same sensitivity, but exhibits base resistance drift along with sluggish response.     

Facile synthesis and enhanced trimethylamine sensing performances of W-doped MoO3 nanobelts

The pure and W-doped MoO₃ nanobelts were prepared via a facile one-step hydrothermal method. The morphology and microstructure of the developed nanobelts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The characterization results showed that as-prepared samples are uniform nanobelts with a mean length of 20 µm and width range of 100–200 nm, and W element was distributed uniformly in MoO₃ nanobelts. The comparison between pure and doped samples was carried out to reveal the superior gas sensing performance of W-doped MoO₃ nanobelts. The results of sensing properties indicate that the sensors based on W-doped MoO₃ nanobelts exhibit high response, good selectivity, and long term stability characteristics towards trimethylamine (TMA) gas, which are promising for trimethylamine sensors used to monitor air-quality and environmental.     

Chiral sensing of Eu(III)‐containing achiral polymer complex from chiral amino acids coordination induction

The β‐diketonate‐based achiral polymer P‐1 could be synthesized by the polymerization of 3,7‐dibromo‐2,8‐dimethoxy‐5,5‐dioctyl‐5H‐dibenzo[b,d]silole ( M1 ) with (Z)?1,3‐bis(4‐ethynylphenyl)?3‐hydroxyprop‐en‐1‐one ( M2 ) via typical Sonogashira coupling reaction. The β‐diketonate unit in the main chain backbone of P‐1 can further coordinate with Eu(TTA)_x [TTA^? = 4,4,4‐trifluoro‐1‐(thiophen‐2‐yl)butane‐1,3‐dionate anion, X = 1, 2, 3] to afford corresponding Eu(III)‐containing polymer complexes. The resulting achiral polymer complex P‐2 (X = 2) can exhibit strong circular dichroism (CD) response toward both N‐Boc‐l and d‐ proline enantiomers. The CD signal was preliminarily attributed to coordination induction between chiral N‐Boc‐proline and the Eu(III) complex moiety. The linear regression analysis of CD sensing shows a good agreement between the magnitude of molar ellipticity and concentration of chiral N‐Boc‐l or d‐ proline, which indicates this kind Eu(III)‐containing achiral polymer complex can be used as a chiral probe for enantioselective recognition of N‐Boc‐l or d‐ proline enantiomers based on Cotton effect of CD spectra. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 3080–3086     

Tetraphenylethene‐Based Conjugated Fluoranthene: A Potential Fluorescent Probe for Detection of Nitroaromatic Compounds

This study reports the synthesis and photophysical properties of a star‐shaped, novel, fluoranthene–tetraphenylethene (TFPE) conjugated luminogen, which exhibits aggregation‐induced blue‐shifted emission (AIBSE). The bulky fluoranthene units at the periphery prevent intramolecular rotation (IMR) of phenyl rings and induces a blueshift with enhanced emission. The AIBSE phenomenon was investigated by solvatochromic and temperature‐dependent emission studies. Nanoaggregates of TFPE, formed by varying the water/THF ratio, were investigated by SEM and TEM and correlated with optical properties. The TFPE conjugate was found to be a promising fluorescent probe towards the detection of nitroaromatic compounds (NACs), especially for 2,4,6‐trinitrophenol (PA) with high sensitivity and a high Stern–Volmer quenching constant. The study reveals that nanoaggregates of TFPE formed at 30 and 70 % water in THF showed unprecedented sensitivity with detection limits of 0.8 and 0.5 ppb, respectively. The nanoaggregates formed at water fractions of 30 and 70 % exhibit high Stern–Volmer constants (K_sv=79 998 and 51 120 m ^?1, respectively) towards PA. Fluorescence quenching is ascribed to photoinduced electron transfer between TFPE and NACs with a static quenching mechanism. Test strips coated with TFPE luminogen demonstrate fast and ultra‐low‐level detection of PA for real‐time field analysis.