Efficient Sensing of Trinitrotoluene Using a Photoluminescent Benzo[a]fluorenone Derivative

Abstract

Herein, we have presented a simple organic compound, benzo[a]fluorenone, as a highly fluorescent chemosensor for the detection of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) in solution phase with a limit of detection (LOD) down to 4 nM. This probe is more sensitive towards TNT than 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT) and picric acid (PA). The photophysical studies revealed that it is static quenching through a ground state interaction between TNT and the title compound.