(786c) The Controlling Parameters of Pyrene/Polymer Thin Films As Fluorescence Explosive Detecting Materials

The Controlling Parameters of Pyrene/Polymer
Thin Films as Fluorescence Explosive Detecting Materials

A most recent report has shown that electrospun pyrene and
polystyrene thin films results in high fluorescence and can be fast quenching
(within 6 minutes) by nitro-aromatic explosive molecules. Moreover, the
sensitivity (at the ppb level) and selectivity (specific to the nitro-aromatic
compounds) are exceptional, making the materials an ideal candidate for
explosive detection. Nevertheless, it has also been found that the preparation procedure
of the thin films plays a key role in both fluorescence and quenching
efficiency.  In this presentation, we will discuss over a few parameters which effectively
control the performance of the detection and provide some insight to the
molecular interaction and aggregation structures of pyrene in the polymer thin
films. The preliminary result indicates that polymer and evaporation rate of
the solvent can strongly influence the fluorescence, suggesting that the
high-performance structure obtained from the electrospun films is presumably
dictated by the kinetic of the system.