Duel phase selective inner filter effect-based luminescent sensing for the detection of para-nitrophenol and picric acid

Recently, graphene-based nanomaterials have received a lot of interest for their ability to detect harmful nitroaromatic chemicals (NACs). In this work a simple hydrothermal approach has been used successfully to produce a highly luminous reduced graphene oxide nano-probe (Asp-rGO) for fluorescence turn-off detection of para-nitrophenol (p-NP) and picric acid (PA) in aqueous media. The sensitivity of the well-characterized Asp-rGO nano-probe is tested towards the detection of analytes in spiked real samples in the concentration range of 0-20 μM and 0-6 μM with a limit of detection of 11.465 nM and 7.839 nM for p-NP and PA, respectively. Inspired with this outstanding fluorescent property, Asp-rGO is again employed to make a PVA-based, highly fluorescent transparent film that can be used as a solid fluorescence sensor platform for the detection of p-NP and PA gases selectively in presence of other NACs. The sensor system has a remarkable selectivity depending on the vapor pressure of the NACs gases, with minimal detection limits of 37.44 ppt and 116 ppt for p-NP and PA vapor, respectively. The uniqueness of dual-phase detectability and acquiring a quick response time demonstrate an excellent performance towards cost-effective and sensitive detection of nitrogenous explosives. • We present reduced graphene oxide (Asp-rGO) nanomaterials for fluorescence based detection of nitroaromatic chemicals. • The limit of detection is 11.465 nM and 7.839 nM for para-nitrophenol and picric acid respectively in aqueous media. • The limit of detection is 37.44 ppt and 116 ppt for para-nitrophenol and picric acid, respectively in gaseous media. • A simple IFE-based fluorescence quenching approach is used to detect nitroaromatic chemicals.