Recent progress in thin film fluorescent probe for organic amine vapour

There are great needs for real-time detection of volatile organic amines (VOA) through low-cost detection methods in public health, food safety, and environmental monitoring area. Organic thin-film fluorescent probe (OTFFP) is expected to become a new and efficient means of detecting VOA because of its fast response, high sensitivity, no contamination to the analyte and ease to prepare a portable instrument. Compared with the mature detection methods in solution, research on solid fluorescence sensing has been less studied. In this article, we review recent progress in OTFFP research for VOA vapour. We mainly focus on the new fluorescent sensing mechanisms applied in solid state in recent years and the design principle of probes for different types of organic amines (such as primary amine, secondary amine, tertiary amine and aromatic amine). We also review the material structures of these probes and the strategies to enhance their sensitivity or selectivity.