Luminescent organometallic nanoparticles as chemical sensors

COLL 19

William C. Trogler, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA 92093-0358
Redox selective solid-state nanoparticle sensors for nitroaromatic explosives (e.g. TNT), as well as carcinogenic and toxic chromium(VI) and arsenic(V) will be described. Nanoparticles of polysiloles have been prepared by a colloidal precipitation method in mixed solvent systems. Luminescence quenching of aqueous suspensions can be quantified and used to determine part per billion levels of dissolved TNT or chromate. The collidal materials show enhanced sensitivity over the bulk solid fluorescent sensors. In addition, the charged nature of the colloidal particles dramatically alters their detection selectivity. Physical and chemical characterization of these organometallic analogues of quantum dot sensors will be provided.