Detection of explosives with a fluorescent nanofibril film

A new type of fluorescence sensory material has been developed from an alkoxycarbonyl-substituted carbazole-cornered tetracycle. Films fabricated from such materials are shown to be efficient in detecting explosive vapor, probably owing to the extended 1D molecular stacking between the component molecules and intrinsic nanoporous morphology thus formed within the film. The former facilitates long-range exciton migration, while the latter favors adsorption and diffusion of gaseous adsorbates within the film. A combination of these two characteristics enables efficient fluorescence quenching of the film by gaseous quenchers.