title: Luminescent optical detection of volatile electron deficient compounds by conjugated polymer nanofibers.
abstract: Optical detection of volatile electron deficient analytes via fluorescence quenching is demonstrated using ca. 200 nm diameter template-synthesized polyfluorene nanofibers as nanoscale detection elements. Observed trends in analyte quenching effectiveness suggest that, in addition to energetic factors, analyte vapor pressure and polymer/analyte solubility play an important role in the emission quenching process. Individual nanofibers successfully act as luminescent reporters of volatile nitroaromatics at sub-parts per million levels. Geometric factors, relating to the nanocylindrical geometry of the fibers and to low nanofiber substrate coverage, providing a less crowded environment around fibers, appear to play a role in providing access by electron deficient quencher molecules to the excited states within the fibers, thereby facilitating the pronounced fluorescence quenching response.
authors: §School of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
authors: Aidan
authors: A
authors: Wade
authors: †Tyndall National Institute, University College Cork, Lee Maltings, Cork, Ireland.
authors: Pierre
authors: P
authors: Lovera
authors: ‡Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 607 Taylor Road, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, United States.
authors: Deirdre
authors: D
authors: O'Carroll
authors: †Tyndall National Institute, University College Cork, Lee Maltings, Cork, Ireland.
authors: Hugh
authors: H
authors: Doyle
authors: §School of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
authors: Gareth
authors: G
authors: Redmond
mesh_terms: D004583:Electrons; D005449:Fluorenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D057139:Nanofibers / Q000737:chemistry*; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D005449:Fluorenes; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds; C542782:poly(9,9-di-n-octyl-2,7-fluorene)