π-Electronic Coassembled Microflake Sensors with Forster Resonance Energy Transfer Enhanced Discrimination of Methanol and Ethanol

In the field of fluorescence-based gas sensing, it is very difficult to realize the distinction of the molecules with similar chemical properties and slight structural differences (e.g., methanol and ethanol). Herein, we fabricated coassemblies of energy-donor molecule 1 (M1) and energy-acceptor molecule 2 (M2) with different molar ratios. These materials can selectively differentiate methanol and ethanol by regulating the distance of exciton migration of donor M1 by embedding energy-acceptor M2. More importantly, methanol can also be detected from the mixture vapors of methanol and ethanol. These results provide a new approach for developing fluorescence sensors that are highly sensitive to molecules with very small difference in the chemical structures.

Automated summary

In the field of fluorescence-based gas sensing, it is challenging to distinguish molecules with similar chemical properties and slight structural differences. In this study, coassemblies of energy-donor molecule 1 and energy-acceptor molecule 2 with different molar ratios were fabricated. These materials selectively differentiate methanol and ethanol by regulating the distance of exciton migration and can also detect methanol from the mixture vapors of methanol and ethanol.