Selective and rapid detection of nerve agent simulants by polymer fibers with a fluorescent chemosensor in gas phase

Abstract

Nerve agents (NAs) are the most feared and unpredictable chemical warfare agents (CWAs) on the battlefield and in the hands of terrorists. To cope with chemical terrorism or chemical warfare, it is urgent to establish a rapid and reliable detection method for NAs. In this work, we have developed two 6-aminoquinolin-2-yl-methanols (AQmol-1 and AQmol-2), which can selectively detect two nerve agent simulants, diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP) and diethylchlorophosphate (DCP), over other organophosphate compunds. In this sensing reaction, the hydroxy group of two sensors is phosphorylated by DFP/DCP and simulanutaus protonation of nitrigen of the quinoline to form a stronger electron donor-acceptor (DA) molecule over the sensor molecule, giving corresponding fluorescence response. Therein, AQmol-2 diplays ratiometirc fluorescence response towards DFP/DCP with a lower limit of detection (LOD) 0.18 μM or 0.16 μM, respectively. Furthermore, two AQmol-2 embedded solid polymers, membrane and fibers (the diameter <1 μm), were fabricated for detection of DFP/DCP vapor. Both AQmol-2-embedded solid-state polymers can detect DFP/DCP vapor more rapidly over those (about 30 min) in solutions. The polymer fibers from an electrospaning technology give more rapid response toward DCP (within 20 s) over that (3 min) of the membrane. Therefore, AQmol-2-embedded polymer nanofibrosis is promissing way for selective and rapid detection of nerve agents in gas phase.