Abstract
2,4,6-Trinitrophenol, commonly known as picric acid, is a powerful explosive that has been used historically in military ammunition. Picric acid is extremely toxic and sensitive to friction and heat; thus, it is prone to accidental detonation at high temperatures. It is critical to detect and separate picric acid from the impacted areas. In the present study, we designed and developed a fluorescent copolymer (P1) for temperature-dependent picric acid detection. The solvatochromic and aggregation-induced emission (AIE) properties of P1 were utilized to detect picric acid at a high temperature of 40 °C (high alert level) by turn-off emission. Additionally, a polymeric thin film (F1) was fabricated by immobilizing P1 onto the surface of quartz slide. Notably, F1 retained its emissive properties across a range of temperatures (both relatively low and high alert levels), facilitated by its AIE characteristics. The portable film, F1, displayed a nanomolar sensitivity toward picric acid, making it suitable for on-site detection in aqueous media (neutral pH). Furthermore, F1 demonstrated efficient separation of picric acid from nitroaromatic explosive mixtures with a separation efficiency of 70 % over four cycles. Importantly, F1 exhibited practical utility in detecting and separating picric acid in real samples, highlighting its potential for environmental monitoring applications.
Published Version
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