Controllable Synthesis of Conjugated Microporous Polymer Films for Ultra-sensitive Detection of Chemical Warfare Agents

Abstract Nerve agents, one of the most toxic chemical warfare agents, seriously threaten human life and public security. The development of highly sensitive nerve-agent sensors has become an imperative and challenging topic. Reported here are two fluorescent conjugated microporous polymer (CMP) films, which show superior sensitivity for DCP (nerve-agent simulant). The limit of detection of TCzP-CMP can be determined as 13.2 ppt, which is the best report. This is due to the synergy of the susceptible "on-off" effect of hybridization and de-hybridization of hybrid local and charge transfer (HLCT) materials and the microporous structure of CMP films facilitating the inward diffusion of DCP vapor, and the “molecular wire effect”. This strategy provides a new idea for the future development of gas sensors. In addition, a portable sensor is successfully integrated based on TCzP-CMP films that enables wireless, remote, ultrasensitive, and real-time detection of DCP vapors.