Utilization of polydiacetylene/zinc oxide nanocomposites to detect and differentiate organic bases in various media

Abstract

© 2016 The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Polydiacetylene/zinc oxide (PDA/ZnO) nanocomposites are demonstrated as colorimetric sensors for organic bases. Influence of stimuli structure on the color-transition behaviors is investigated. Addition of methylamine, ethylamine, butylamine and pentylamine into pure PDAs with different alkyl chain length induces blue-to-red transition at the same concentration. Interestingly, for PDA/ZnO, it shows an ability to differentiate these alkylamines. The detecting concentration and the ability to differentiate the alkylamines can be controlled by adjusting the alkyl chain length of PDA/ZnO. Moreover, PDA/ZnO-embedded paper is successfully fabricated and used to detect alkylamines in different media. Results extend the utilization of PDA-based materials in sensing technologies.