An ultra-highly sensitive and selective self-enhanced AIECL sensor for public security early warning in a nuclear emergency via a co-reactive group poisoning mechanism

The worldwide application of nuclear power has created the potential risk of a nuclear accident, which has been a challenge to public security. In nuclear leakages, I-2 radioisotopes would cause rapid, global pollution. Therefore, highly sensitive and selective I-2 sensors exhibit their significance in nuclear accident early warnings and treatments. Herein, a conjugated polymer was developed for I-2 vapor monitoring with an ultra-low limit of detection (LOD). This polymer, modified with a tertiary amine as a co-reactive group, exhibits aggregation-induced electrochemiluminescence (AIECL) and self-enhanced ECL behaviors. It is noteworthy that the tertiary amine also acts as I-2 vapor capturing and sensing groups to give a LOD of 0.13 ppt. Excellent selectivity was obtained in various interfering atmospheres. A new mechanism was discovered for designing vapor sensors, which is summarized as co-reactive group poisoning (CGP). To meet the high efficiency requirement of nuclear emergency monitoring, an I-2 sensor modified screen printed carbon electrode was used due to its low cost, lack of need for pretreatment and suitability for mass production. A matching upwardly photosensitive ECL dark box was further designed. This study reports ECL vapor monitoring for the first time and provides a novel strategy for early warning of a nuclear emergency, suggesting its significance in environmental and public security fields.

Automated summary

The global use of nuclear power has brought potential risks of nuclear accidents, requiring highly sensitive and selective I-2 sensors for early warnings and treatments. An innovative conjugated polymer modified with a co-reactive group was developed for ultra-low limit of detection (LOD), showing aggregation-induced electrochemiluminescence (AIECL) and high selectivity in detecting I-2 vapor.