Development of a Fluorophore with Enhanced Unorthodox Chalcogen Bonding for Highly Sensitive Detection of Trimethyl Arsine Vapor

In this work, we report the design
of novel fluorophores that bear
three benzothiadiazole and benzoselenadiazole groups, respectively,
for sensitive detection of trimethyl arsine vapor. In particular,
the fluorophore with the benzoselenadiazole groups can form stronger
chalcogen bonding with trimethyl arsine than the fluorophore with
the benzothiadiazole groups, which in turn triggers much faster and
more sensitive fluorescence responses. On the basis of this novel
mechanism, fluorescence detection of trimethyl arsine vapor with rapid
response (∼3 s), high sensitivity (the theoretical LOD is 0.44
ppb), and high selectivity is achieved on bundled nanofibers from
the fluorophore with the benzoselenadiazole groups. Here, the new
fluorescence sensor may find wide applications in health and environmental
monitoring, arsenic distribution recognition in soil, and arsenic
mines exploration.