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Ratiometric fluorescence nanoplatform integrated with smartphone as readout device for sensing trace water

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Abstract

In our investigation, a smartphone-integrated ratiometric fluorescent sensing system with lanthanide-based infinite coordination polymers (Ce-GMP-DPA@Tb-DPA) as signal probe has been successfully constructed for sensitive and portable detection of water in organic solvents. The Ce-GMP-DPA presents blue luminescence which is suppressed once the Tb-DPA is integrated to form the complex of Ce-GMP-DPA@Tb-DPA. Due to the energy transfer from Ce to Tb, the as-formed Ce-GMP-DPA@Tb-DPA exhibits green fluorescence of Tb-DPA. The presence of water can decompose the Tb-DPA, which blocks energy transfer from Ce to Tb, resulting in the decrease of green emission of Tb-DPA and the recovery of blue emission of Ce-GMP-DPA. Therefore, a ratiometric fluorescence assay is established for quantitative water detection within a wide linear range from 0.2 to 90.0% in ethanol. The limit of detection (LOD) reaches as low as 0.16% in ethanol, 0.62% in THF, and 0.0076% in acetonitrile, respectively. Furthermore, a smartphone installed with Color Picker APP as signal reader and analyzer is designed to integrate with the detection assay. With white spirit as real sample, water can be on-site detected with high accuracy (RSD < 2.81%). The developed platform presents great potential for portable water detection in practical application with merits of low cost, easy carry, and simple operation.

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Funding

This work is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 21775108) and Tianjin Science and Technology Project (18PTSYJC00130).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, College of Food Engineering and Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, 300457, China

    Pengxiang Wang, Tianlin Wang, Xinke Wang, Minyang Zhao, Xiao Zhou & Yaqing Liu

  2. Tianjin Key Laboratory of Food Science and Health, School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China

    Shuo Wang

Authors
  1. Pengxiang Wang
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  2. Tianlin Wang
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  3. Xinke Wang
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  4. Minyang Zhao
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  5. Xiao Zhou
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  6. Shuo Wang
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  7. Yaqing Liu
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Correspondence to Yaqing Liu.

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Wang, P., Wang, T., Wang, X. et al. Ratiometric fluorescence nanoplatform integrated with smartphone as readout device for sensing trace water. Anal Bioanal Chem 413, 4267–4275 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-021-03378-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-021-03378-5

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