Highly selective sensing of nitroaromatics using nanomaterials of ellagic acid

We report the synthesis, characterization, and application of nanobelts and nanowires of ellagic acid for sensing nitroaromatics. The nanostructures are composed of aggregated ellagic acids that are held together by hydrogen bonds and π-π interactions. The molecules are oriented with their long axis perpendicular to the nanowire or nanobelt and the π-π stacking direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the wire or belt. Both the conductivity and fluorescence of the nanobelts change selectively in the presence of the vapor of nitrobenzene, a representative nitroaromatic compound, suggesting the nanobelt of ellagic acid may be used for selective detection of explosives.