Highly Efficient Fluorescent Film Probe of Hydrogen Peroxide Vapor

Abstract Because of the increasing use in improvised explosives and serious influences on the public society, peroxide-based explosives are vital targets for detection. Herein, we reported two new fluorescent compounds, DB-WCZ and DB-W, served as turn-off type fluorescent film probes to H2O2 (a typical substitute for TATP) vapor. Both of DB-WCZ and DB-W are fluorene-pyrene compounds linked two borate ester units. The deboronation was contributed to the fluorescence quenching during the H2O2 detecting process. Compared with DB-W, DB-WCZ film shows higher selectivity and sensitivity to H2O2 vapor. The quenching rate can play up to 62% in 120 s and the fluorescent detection limit of DB-WCZ can be as low as 0.1 ppb, which might be due to the pendent carbazole units to DB-WCZ to form the porous microstructures and benefit the diffusion of H2O2 vapor.