Search

The preparation of new monodisperse polycrystalline palladium nanoparticles uniformly distributed on the surface of polymers, by simply adding a palladium(ii) solution in water to the polymers, is described. The polymer supported palladium nanoparticles material was used as an efficient portable and reusable catalyst for the stereoselective semihydrogenation reaction of internal alkynes to (Z)-alkenes in green solvents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the development of new fluorogenic silica nanomaterials that were able to generate fluorescence in the presence of vapours of triacetone triperoxide, TATP, an improvised explosive used in terrorist attacks. The materials worked in a vapour flow of TATP, giving a permanent and strongly fluorescent response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fluorogenic perylenediimide-functionalized polyacrylate capable of generating color and fluorescence changes in the presence of triacetone triperoxide TATP), an improvised explosive used in terrorist attacks, under solvent-free, solid-state conditions has been developed. The material works by accumulating volatile TATP until it reaches a threshold; therefore, triggering colorimetric and fluorescent responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This personal account describes our contribution to the design of selective fluorogenic probes for contaminants of high environmental impact. For this purpose, we have developed a new family of highly versatile fluorogenic reagents that were able to show large differences in their fluorescence in the presence of selected analytes. They were used in the preparation of fluorogenic probes for the detection of contaminants of high environmental impact which currently have no good solutions: phosphorylating agents, such as chemical weapons; methyl mercury(II); the cyanide anion; amino-acid metabolites, such as doping substances; and biogenic amine mimics, such as drugs of abuse and recreational drugs. The development of new materials for specific sensing was achieved by anchoring selected probes to silica nanomaterials, suitable for the selective detection of organic analytes in water for immediate application to toxicological or environmental purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]