A carbazole–fluorene molecular hybrid for quantitative detection of TNT using a combined fluorescence and quartz crystal microbalance method

Abstract

A combined fluorescence and quartz-crystal microbalance approach for the quantitative sensing of nitroaromatics, particularly TNT, using morphologically different self-assemblies of a carbazole bridged fluorene (CBF) derivative is described. Picomolar level detection of TNT was possible in water by the CBF nanoparticles and nanogram level TNT sensing in the vapour phase could be achieved with the CBF supramolecular rods.