A highly sensitive fluorescent sensor for ammonia detection based on aggregation-induced emission luminogen-doped liquid crystals

Zhan, Xiyun1,2; Liu, Yanjun1; Wang, Fei1; Zhao, Dongyu3; Yang, Kun-Lin2; Luo, Dan1

2022-09-01

10.1039/d2sm00568a

Soft Matter   Impact Factor & Quartile

1744-683X

1744-6848

As a toxic substance, ammonia can cause serious irritation to the human respiratory system and lungs. Although many detection techniques have been reported, most of them have drawbacks, such as expensive devices and complex and time-consuming fabrication processes. Thus, it is important to develop a simple method for ammonia detection. In this paper, we demonstrate a highly sensitive fluorescent sensor for ammonia detection based on aggregation-induced emission luminogen-doped liquid crystals without the use of polarizers. The homeotropic orientation of the liquid crystals on a modified substrate can be disturbed by ammonia, resulting in the fluorescence intensity change of an aggregation-induced emission luminogen. This aggregation-induced emission luminogen-doped liquid crystal-based fluorescent sensor for ammonia detection exhibited a low detection limit of 5.4 ppm, which is 3 times lower than previously reported liquid crystal-based optical sensors. The detection range is also broad from 0 ppm to 1600 ppm. Meanwhile, this sensor can be applied to detect aqueous ammonia with a low limit of detection of 1.8 ppm. The proposed fluorescent sensor for ammonia detection based on an aggregation-induced emission luminogen-doped liquid crystal is highly sensitive, highly selective, simple, and low cost with wide potential applications in chemical and biological fields. This strategy of designing a liquid crystal fluorescent sensor provides an inspiring stage for other toxic chemical substrates by changing specific decorated molecules.

SCI

English

First ; Corresponding

Natural National Science Foundation of China (NSFC)["61875081","51973007"] ; Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Commission[JCYJ20180305180700747] ; Beijing Natural Science Foundation of China[2192030]

Chemistry ; Materials Science ; Physics ; Polymer Science

Chemistry, Physical ; Materials Science, Multidisciplinary ; Physics, Multidisciplinary ; Polymer Science

WOS:000861233200001

ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY

Web of Science

1.Southern Univ Sci & Technol, Dept Elect & Elect Engn, Xueyuan Rd 1088, Shenzhen 518055, Guangdong, Peoples R China
2.Natl Univ Singapore, Dept Chem & Biomol Engn, 4 Engn Dr 4, Singapore 117576, Singapore
3.Beihang Univ, Sch Chem & Environm, Xueyuan Rd 37, Beijing 100191, Peoples R China

Zhan, Xiyun,Liu, Yanjun,Wang, Fei,et al. A highly sensitive fluorescent sensor for ammonia detection based on aggregation-induced emission luminogen-doped liquid crystals[J]. Soft Matter,2022.

Zhan, Xiyun,Liu, Yanjun,Wang, Fei,Zhao, Dongyu,Yang, Kun-Lin,&Luo, Dan.(2022).A highly sensitive fluorescent sensor for ammonia detection based on aggregation-induced emission luminogen-doped liquid crystals.Soft Matter.

Zhan, Xiyun,et al."A highly sensitive fluorescent sensor for ammonia detection based on aggregation-induced emission luminogen-doped liquid crystals".Soft Matter (2022).