Fluorescent conjugated polymer films as TNT chemosensors

Three prototypical light emitting conjugated polymers, two poly(p-phenylene vinylenes) (MEH-PPV and DP10-PPV) and a poly(diphenylacetylene), were examined for chemosensor applications to detect explosive compounds such as 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and 2,4- and 2,6-dinitrotoluene (DNTs). All polymer thin films showed high fluorescence quenching sensitivity towards TNT and DNTs, indicating that a wide range of emissive conjugated polymers are potentially useful chemosensor materials for detecting landmines. The relative sensitivity of fluorescence quenching of the polymers by the analytes has been rationalized in terms of the vapor pressure of the analytes, the solubility parameters of the polymers and the analytes, and the relative energy levels of the polymers. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.