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Abstract In this work, a new strategy for rapid and visual detection of trace benzene vapor was reported by utilizing supramolecular thermally activated delayed fluorescence (STADF) polymeric materials via luminescence change mechanism. Consequently, a new type of multi‐color STADF polymeric materials GPs@C3A were constructed by host–guest complexation between calix3acridan (C3A) and different guest‐linked polymers (GPs). Interestingly, by adjusting the added molar proportion of C3A, multi‐color TADF property of GPs@C3A could also be easily tuned. Notably, when a 20% molar ratio of C3A was added, GP1@C3A exhibited white luminescence. Especially, by using the high selectivity of C3A toward benzene and its differential binding affinities for acceptor guests versus benzene, rapid detection of trace benzene vapor was achieved in few seconds with the naked eyes. The limit of detection concentrations for benzene reached 3.5 mg L −1 , indicating GPs@C3A could be used as an excellent sensor for rapid detection of benzene at trace level. Furthermore, GP1@C3A could also be fabricated into a visualized and convenient paper‐based sensor strip for detecting benzene in cyclohexane. This work offers an innovative idea for the application of STADF materials in detection, and also addresses the key challenge of simultaneously improving sensitivity, selectivity and visualization in benzene detection.
Han et al. (Wed,) studied this question.