Fast and visual detection of a chemical warfare agent mimic using a simple, effective and portable chemodosimeter

• Published in: Sensors and actuators. B, Chemical Chemical, 2020-09, Vol.319, p.128282, Article 128282
• Main Authors: Hu, Xichao, Zeng, Hongyan, Chen, Tianhong, Yuan, Hou-Qun, Zeng, Lintao, Bao, Guang-Ming
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Chemical compounds; Chemical warfare; Chemical warfare agent; Chemodosimeter; Diethylchlorophosphate; ESIPT mechanism; Fluorescence; Fluorescent; Hydroxyl groups; Linearity; Organophosphorus compounds; Polystyrene resins; Selectivity; Test membrane
• ISSN: 0925-4005; 1873-3077
• DOI: 10.1016/j.snb.2020.128282

[Display omitted] •The chemosensor displayed ultrafast (＜6 s) response toward DCP with high selectivity.•The chemosensor was fabricated into portable kits for real-time monitoring DCP.•The BT-OH-based kit could respond toward DCP with colorimetric fluorescence. Organophosphorus compounds (OPs) as chemical warfare agents (CWAs) pose a great threat to human health. For the issue of global security, it is highly demanded to establish fast and efficient detection methods for monitoring CWAs. This work presented a benzothiazole-based fluorescent chemodosimeter (BT-OH) for the detection of diethylchlorophosphate (DCP) via “ESIPT-OFF” mechanism, in which the phenyl hydroxyl group could efficiently be phosphated by DCP and turn to phosphorester, thus bringing about obvious fluorescence lighting-up. BT-OH shows rapid response (within 6 s) towards DCP with good linearity and specificity, as well as low detection limit (0.186 μM). Furthermore, a polystyrene-based testing membrane immobilized with BT-OH was prepared for real-time detection of DCP vapor with good performance. Therefore, this work provides a new manner for the detection of DCP by using a fluorescent chemodosimeter with the advantages of high sensitivity and selectivity, ultra-fast detection, easy-to-manipulate, as well as in situ naked eye observation.