A single molecular fluorescent probe for selective and sensitive detection of nitroaromatic explosives: A new strategy for the mask-free discrimination of TNT and TNP within same sample.

A simple naphthalene based fluorescent probe was first time reported as dual sensing of 2,4,6-trinitrotolune (TNT) and 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (TNP) by distinguishable changes in both solution color change and fluorescence within same sample without any mask agent. Upon addition of TNT and TNP, the strong emission quenching at 412nm and a new emission band at 530nm was observed, respectively. In addition, the sensing mechanism was evaluated by DFT calculations by Gaussian 09 software.