title: Functionality-Oriented Derivatization of Naphthalene Diimide: A Molecular Gel Strategy-Based Fluorescent Film for Aniline Vapor Detection.
abstract: Modification of naphthalene diimide (NDI) resulted in a photochemically stable, fluorescent 3,4,5-tris(dodecyloxy)benzamide derivative of NDI (TDBNDI), and introduction of the long alkyl chains endowed the compound with good compatibility with commonly found organic solvents and in particular superior self-assembly in the solution state. Further studies revealed that TDBNDI forms gels with nine of the 18 solvents tested at a concentration of 2.0% (w/v), and the critical gelation concentrations of five of the eight gels are lower than 1.0% (w/v), indicating the high efficiency of the compound as a low-molecular mass gelator (LMMG). Transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and confocal laser scanning microscopy studies revealed the networked fibrillar structure of the TDBNDI/methylcyclohexane (MCH) gel. On the basis of these findings, a fluorescent film was developed via simple spin-coating of the TDBNDI/MCH gel on a glass substrate surface. Fluorescence behavior and sensing performance studies demonstrated that this film is photochemically stable, and sensitive and selective to the presence of aniline vapor. Notably, the response is instantaneous, and the sensing process is fully and quickly reversible. This case study demonstrates that derivatization of photochemically stable fluorophores into LMMGs is a good strategy for developing high-performance fluorescent sensing films.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Applied Surface and Colloid Chemistry of Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University , Xi'an 710062, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jiayun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Applied Surface and Colloid Chemistry of Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University , Xi'an 710062, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xingmao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Applied Surface and Colloid Chemistry of Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University , Xi'an 710062, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Meixia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Applied Surface and Colloid Chemistry of Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University , Xi'an 710062, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Congdi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Applied Surface and Colloid Chemistry of Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University , Xi'an 710062, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Applied Surface and Colloid Chemistry of Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University , Xi'an 710062, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Shiwei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Applied Surface and Colloid Chemistry of Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University , Xi'an 710062, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Haonan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Applied Surface and Colloid Chemistry of Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University , Xi'an 710062, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fang
keywords: aniline; fluorescent film; molecular gels; naphthalene diimide; sensor