Optical detection of nitroaromatic compounds using MAPbBr3 at room temperature

Abstract

Methylammonium lead bromide, i.e., MAPbBr₃, has been synthesized at room temperature through chemical stirring method. The structural characterization of synthesized MAPbBr₃ has been confirmed through X-ray diffraction technique, Field emission scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared, thermogravimetric analysis and UV-Vis spectroscopy. Afterward, the optical properties (excitation wavelength 415 nm; emission wavelength = 535 nm) of MAPbBr₃ were confirmed through a photoluminescence spectrophotometer. To end, MAPbBr₃ has been used for the optical detection of nitroaromatic compounds, i.e., nitrobenzene (NB), dinitrobenzene (DNB), dinitrotoluene (DNT), trinitrophenol (TNT) in hexane. Our research has confirmed the 7.1 ppb and 10 ppb detection limit (LOD) for nitrobenzene and di-nitrobenzene only using MAPbBr₃, respectively. Importantly, we found out the selectivity %, i.e., 1.3% and 2.7% in the case of nitrobenzene and dinitrobenzene sensing using MAPbBr₃ in hexane, respectively.