Ultrafast fluorescence probe to H2O2 vapor based on organic-inorganic hybrid silica nanoparticles.

A kind of organic-inorganic hybrid silica nanoparticles loaded with 1,8-naphthalimide borate ester (NIB@SiO 2) was used to detect trace hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2) vapor via turn-off mechanism. The detailed studies showed that utilizing silica nanoparticles can improve the adsorption properties and hydrophilicity of the sensing film, accelerate the deboronation reaction between the sensing material and H 2 O 2, and then shorten the response time successively, which is always the disturbing challenge for this deboronation-type fluorescent probe to H 2 O 2 vapor. The fluorescence of NIB@SiO 2 film was quenched greatly under H 2 O 2 saturated vapor within 5 s at room temperature and limit of detection (LOD) was estimated to be 184 ppt, which are among the best reported results. Thus, this study provides an ultrafast and highly sensitive organic-inorganic hybrid fluorescent probe to H 2 O 2 vapor, moreover, a new design strategy for promising H 2 O 2 fluorescent probe is revealed. [Display omitted] • A new hybrid material (NIB@SiO 2) was successfully prepared with blue fluorescence. • The probe showed a rapid, intense fluorescence quenching to H 2 O 2 vapor. • The adsorption properties and hydrophilicity of silica nanoparticles are conducive to film detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]