Fluorescence Sensing of Formaldehyde and Acetaldehyde Based on Responsive Inverse Opal Photonic Crystals: A Multiple-Application Detection Platform

Abstract

Formaldehyde (FA) and acetaldehyde (AcH) used as common chemicals in many fields are carcinogenic. The presently reported detection methods usually need expensive instruments, professional technicians, and time-consuming processes, and the detection sensitivity still needs further improvement. Herein, we report a highly effective fluorescence (FL) sensing film for FA and AcH based on naphthalimide derivativeinfiltrated responsive SiO 2 inverse opal photonic crystals (PCs), establishing a practically multiple-application detection platform for FA and AcH in air, aquatic products, and living cells. Nucleophilic addition products between the amine group of the naphthalimide derivative and aldehydes emit strong FL at ∼550 nm, realizing selective FL detection for FA and AcH. The emitted FL can be enhanced remarkably because of the slow photon effect of PCs, in which the FL wavelength is located at the stopband edge of PCs. A highly sensitive detection for FA and AcH with limits of detection of 10.6 and 7.3 nM, respectively, is achieved, increasing 3 orders of magnitude compared with that in the solution system. Additionally, the interconnected three-dimensional microporous inverse opal structure endows the sensor with a rapid response within 1 min. Furthermore, the as-prepared PC sensor can be reused by simple washing in an acidic aqueous solution. The sensing system can be used as a FL multi-detection platform for FA and AcH in air, aqueous solution, and living cells. This FL sensing approach based on small organic molecule-functionalized PCs is universally available to develop various sensors for target analytes by designing new functional organic compounds.

Recent Progress in the Development of Organic Chemosensors for Formaldehyde Detection

“…41 Lu et al found that the HBD probe, upon its addition to aldehyde, resulted in the formation of an imine product (Figure 21). 42 When the HBD probe was immersed in the FA solution, the fluorescence spectra showed different emission intensities at 550 nm. The fluorescence intensities slowly increased upon the increase in infiltration volume of 15 μL to approximately 30 μL.…”

Biological applications of chiral inorganic nanomaterials

“…100 Therefore, the detection of such toxic small molecules is very important. Colorimetry, 101 electrochemical analysis, 102 high-performance liquid chromatography, 103 SERS, 104 and FL analysis 105 have been utilized to monitor the existence of small molecules in living organisms. However, some problems still exist, including low sensitivity, sample damage, and complicated and time-consuming detection techniques.…”

Engineered inverse opal structured semiconductors for solar light-driven environmental catalysis

“…Secondly, the target catalyst precursor is filled into the gaps of the opal structure template by various methods, such as impregnation, 5 chemical deposition, 26 and filtration. 30 Then, through specific processing, such as calcination, 31 pyrolysis, 7 etc ., the mixture of catalyst and template is obtained, and the opal template is finally removed by different methods such as high-temperature calcination, 32 acid/base solution etching, 21 and organic solvent extraction washing. 31 Compared with the three-step method, opal template construction is not involved in the two-step method.…”

“…Commonly used chemicals such as formaldehyde and acetaldehyde are widely distributed in the atmosphere 205 and water 206 as pollutants. To detect these chemicals, Lu et al 31 immobilized the naphthalimide derivative, which can combine with aldehyde molecules such as formaldehyde and acetaldehyde to emit fluorescent signals on IO-SiO 2 films. They explored its sensitivity, selectivity, response time, and reusability during detecting aldehyde molecules.…”