Dual-emissive electropolymerization films for the ratiometric fluorescence detection of TNT and TNP with high sensitivity and selectivity

A dual-emissive fluorescence film was prepared through electropolymerization (EP) method, which presents dual-emission around 431 nm and 540 nm, respectively. Then, these dual-emissive EP films were used as fluorescent sensors for 2, 4, 6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and 2, 4, 6-trinitrophenol (TNP) in solution and vapor. Based on the intensity ratio of I-540/I-431, TNT and TNP can be selectively distinguished with the corresponding fluorescence color changes. This excellent performance is due to their different detection mechanism. After washing by methanol, the fluorescence-quenched EP films can be used repeatedly with high sensitivity. Moreover, the EP films could detect TNT in real-world water. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.