Fluorescent Microporous Polymeric Microsphere: Porosity, Adsorption Performance, and TNT Sensing

Abstract

Spiro(fluorene-9,9′-xanthene)-based polymeric monodisperse spheres have been prepared through a surfactant-free Suzuki coupling polymerization in a single-phase. The polymer (PSFX) exhibits permanent microporous nature with Brunauer–Emmett–Teller specific surface area up to 610 m2 g−1. Its hydrogen storage can reach to 1.20 wt% (1.0 bar and 77 K) and the uptake capacity for carbon dioxide is 11.8 wt% (1.0 bar and 273 K). PSFX is a highly hydrophobic material with good sorption capacity for toluene (887 mg g−1 at saturated vapor pressure and room temperature), which makes it show potential use in elimination of harmful small aromatic molecules in the environment. Interestingly, PSFX exhibits a remarkable fluorescent emission property in the suspension. Fluorescence detection of explosive chemical (TNT) was performed through a series of spectrofluorometric titration using the suspension of PSFX as the probe.