Benzo[ghi]perylene and coronene as ratiometric fluorescence probes for the selective sensing of nitroaromatic explosives.

A simple and efficient fluorometric sensing method is developed for the rapid detection of nitroaromatic explosives, based on the quenching of monomer and excimer emission of benzo[ghi]perylene and coronene. The ratiometric method (I/I) offers a linear response as a function of the concentration of picric acid (PA, i.e.