POSS-based organic–inorganic hybrid nanomaterials: aggregation-enhanced emission, and highly sensitive and selective detection of nitroaromatic explosives in aqueous media

Abstract

Two dendritic organic–inorganic hybrid nanomaterials with eight silole units covalently bonded to a POSS core were prepared via a one-step hydrosilylation reaction. These hybrid nanomaterials exhibited aggregation-enhanced emission phenomenon, and displayed outstanding thermal stability and high fluorescence quantum yield. The emissions of these nanoaggregates were selectively quenched by 2,4,6-trinitrophenol. The high selectivity of the sensors was attributed to the combined effects of electron and energy transfer processes. These novel hybrid nanomaterials have the potential to prepare sensitive, selective, and stable sensors for the detection of explosives in aqueous media.