Polarity induced vapochromism and vapoluminescence of polythiophene derivatives for volatile organic compounds classification

Abstract

Polarity induced vapochromic and vapoluminescent properties of cationic poly-3-alkoxythiophene derivatives (PT) casted on polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes are reported. PT with six different pendant groups are designed to differentially interact with volatile organic compounds (VOC) of varying polarities, thereby enabling their classification. PT exhibit a rapid vapochromic response with a concurrent modulation of vapoluminescence due to the non-covalent cation-π interactions between the pendant groups and the PT backbone. Adsorption of VOC on pendant groups alters the conformation of PT backbone, thus resulting in an increase in intensity and blue shifting of fluorescence emission within the visible spectrum. The vapoluminescent responses are found to be more sensitive with a limit of detection (LOD) of ∼7 ppm and a wider dynamic range as compared to the vapochromic responses with a LOD of ∼60 ppm for the detection of a model VOC: chloroform. Notably, all the PT illustrate an instantaneous recovery of colour and luminescence upon desorption of VOC. PT interaction with VOC of varying polarities was ascertained using density functional theory (DFT) and principal component analysis (PCA) methodologies. In summary, the polarity induced vapochromic and vapoluminescent properties of PT could yield a selective and sensitive vapochromic and fluorometric dual-mode VOC detection platform.