University of Utah Research Foundation

Yanke Che

Ling Zang

A sensory material with high sensitivity, selectivity, and photostability has been developed for vapor probing of organic amines. The sensory material is a perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxyl compound having amine binding groups and the following formula 

Nanofibril materials for highly sensitive and selective sensing of amines

The present disclosure provides methods and compositions for an organic nanofiber-based heterojunction material, comprising nano fibers of an acceptor molecule, the nano fibers coated with a donor molecule, where the acceptor molecule contains a group and the donor molecule contains a companion group, wherein the group and companion group enables strong binding between the acceptor molecule and donor molecule, the strong binding providing for efficient forward electron transfer between the acceptor molecule and donor molecule, and wherein the group and companion group minimize charge carrier recombination between the acceptor molecule and the donor molecule.

Nanofiber-based heterojunction approach for high photoconductivity on organic materials

A photoconductive sensor compound for detecting explosives can have a structure I: 

Photoconductive sensor materials for detection of explosive vapor

A fluorescence based sensor () is disclosed and described. The sensor () can include nanofibril materials () fabricated from a linear carbazole oligomer and a fluorescence detector (). The linear carbazole oligomer can have the formula (I) wherein n is 3 to 9, R are independently selected amine sidegroups, and at least one, but not all, R is a C1 to C14 alkyl. The carbazole-based fluorescence based sensors () can be particularly suitable for detection of explosives and volatile nitro compounds. 

Fluorescent carbazole oligomers nanofibril materials for vapor sensing

A coaxial molecular stack () for transferring photocurrent generation in a device such as a solar cell () is disclosed. The device comprises a plurality of macrocyclic &#x3c0;-conjugated planar molecules stackable through columnar self assembly to form a stack () having an axial channel () with an outer p-channel () of the nano-composite coaxial molecular stack (). A plurality of C60 molecules are positioned coaxially within the axial channel of the stack () to form an inner n-channel () that forms a bulk heterojunction with the p-channel () to provide charge transport of photocurrent through the nano-composite coaxial molecular stack (). A plurality of the stacks () are oriented orthogonally between first () and second electrodes () to form the device ().

Parallel coaxial molecular stack arrays

A chemical sensor can include a nanofiber mass of p-type nanofibers having a HOMO level greater than &#x2212;5.0 eV. Additionally, the chemical sensor can include oxygen in contact with the p-type nanofibers. Further, the chemical sensor can include a pair of electrodes in electrical contact across the nanofiber mass, where the p-type nanofibers conduct an electric current that decreases upon contact with an amine compound.

Optoelectrical vapor sensing

A fluorescence sensory material with high sensitivity, selectivity, and photostability has been developed for vapor probing of organic amines. The sensory material is a perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxyl compound having amine binding groups and the following formula 

Perylene nanofiber fluorescent sensor for highly sensitive and selective sensing of amines

A fluorescent sensor compound based on a perylene core is described and disclosed. The fluorescent sensor compound for detecting mercury can have a structure I: where A and A' are linking groups, B and B&#x2032; are binding ligands which are selective for binding with Hg, and R1 through R8 are side groups. These fluorescence sensor materials are robust against photobleaching, while still providing exceptional detection sensitivity and selectivity.

Growing community of inventors

Salt Lake City, UT, United States of America

Yanke Che