Ultratrace Detection of Nitroaromatics: Picric Acid Responsive Aggregation/Disaggregation of Self-Assembled p-Terphenylbenzimidazolium-Based Molecular Baskets

• DOI: 10.1021/acsami.5b01970
• Publication Date: 2015-04-27T14:11:54Z
• Authors: Sana Sandhu; Rahul Kumar; Prabhpreet Singh; Aman Mahajan; Manmeet Kaur; Subodh Kumar
• Keywords: Picric acid

1-(p-Terphenyl)-benzimidazolium (TRIPOD-TP) molecules undergo self-assembly to form rodlike structures in aqueous medium, as shown by field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission and dynamic light scattering studies. Upon gradual addition of picric acid (PA), these aggregates an aggregation/disaggregation process complex morphological (10(-12)-10(-10) M PA) spherical (10(-9)-10(-8) PA). These further dissolution well-dispersed spheres between 10(-7)-10(-6) PA. During fluorescence studies, demonstrate superamplified quenching (>97%) the presence 10(-5) 0.2 equiv probe concentration, unprecedented with The lowest detection limits solution TRIPOD-TP are 5 × 10(-13) PA, 50 10(-12) 2,4-dinitrophenol, 200 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene, 1 nM 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene. Paper strips dipped quantitative 10(-17) 10(-6) PA using front-surface steady state studies can measure low 2.29 10(-20) g/cm(2)