A nanofibrous membrane fluorescent sensor for fluoride ions prepared by electrospinning and host-guest interaction

ABSTRACT

A novel inclusion complexes nanofibrous membrane fluorescent sensor was prepared for recognizing F^- via electrospinning and host–guest interaction. The host α-cyclodextrin on the surface of the electrospun nanofiber membrane is assembled into the guest azobenzene molecule which modified with F^- fluorescent probe, and the formation of the inclusion complex is fixed on the surface of the nanofibrous membrane without external force, to prepare a novel surface controllable composite nanofiber membrane for F^- detection. The inclusion complexes nanofibrous membrane exhibited favourable sensitivity and selectivity for F^-. The introduction of F^- would result in notable fluorescent decreasing of the membrane, but the other most common anions would not disturb the detection of F^-. Moreover, this nanofibrous membrane was not only a fluorescent sensor for detecting F^-, but also a good adsorbent for F^- in solution.

Keywords
Host–guest interaction; Nanofibrous membrane; Fluorescent sensor; Fluoride ions; Adsorbent