Synthesis of Polymeric Brushes from Graphene Oxide via Surface Initiated Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization for the Detection of the Dinitrotoulene

Polyacrylic acid brushes on graphene were successfully prepared, which displayed excellent fluorescence properties when immobilized upon by triphenylamine. These brushes were characterized by Fourier Transformed Infra-Red Spectroscopy, UV-Visible Spectroscopy, X-Ray Diffraction, High-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and Fluorescence Spectroscopy. These fluorescent brushes then further used for detection of DNT by fluorescent quenching. We were able to detect DNT up to 2 mu M concentration. Moreover, the fluorescent intensity of brushes was in a good linear relationship to DNT concentration.