Fluorescent probes and materials for detecting formaldehyde: from laboratory to indoor for environmental and health monitoring

Formaldehyde (FA), as a vital industrial chemical, is widely used in building materials and numerous living products. It has become one of the most important air pollutants in residential and industrial occupational environments. Studies have shown that FA easily reacts with nucleophilic materials, leading to the formation of DNA damage. Additionally, Alzheimer's disease is related to the intake of FA. The concentration of FA in our surroundings especially in the urban environment has attracted increasing attention. Thus, development of a rapid, sensitive and facile method to determine the concentration of FA becomes highly desirable. To date, many types of FA sensing methods have been applied to detect and quantify FA concentration. Herein, we summarized the recent development of materials for FA detection and their application in environmental and health monitoring, with a focus on fluorescent probe, nanomaterials, and biomolecules. Moreover, the future trend of related development from lab to indoors was also proposed.