Abstract:
In the present investigation, we have design and develop pyridyl-imine capped gold nanoaggregates; fully
characterized via various spectroscopic techniques. The photophysical and electrochemical studies revealed that
the developed pyridyl-imine capped gold nanoaggregates are proven to be selective sensor for picric acid with
remarkable low detection limit within nano-molar concentration (15.0 nM) based on 3σ/K; a common constituent of many powerful explosives. The quenching of fluorescence intensity at λ 357 nm occurs which may ascribe
to the electron transfer phenomenon exhibited by the electron rich receptor and emergence of red shift in
fluorescence spectroscopy (λem 464 nm) after gradual addition of picric acid; a selective phenomenon towards
the most electron deficient nitroaromatic (picric acid) sensing. Additionally, the results obtained for the analysis
of spiked samples in real water samples such as river and tap water, show that the developed PA sensor is
potentially applicable in the determination of trace PA explosive without any interference.
