Spectroscopic change of rhodamine 3B incorporated in layered titanate/decyltrimethylammonium hybrid solid by exposure of phenol vapors

Abstract Phenol, a critical raw material in resins and pharmaceuticals, presents environmental and health risks owing to its high volatility and water solubility. Rapid, on-site detection methods are urgently needed but remain underdeveloped. This study explores the use of decyltrimethylammonium-modified layered titanate hybridized with rhodamine 3B (R3B/C10TMA/LT) as a solid material for phenol detection through spectroscopic changes. Phenol adsorption increased the interlayer spacing from 2.37 nm to 2.71 nm, with an adsorption capacity of 5.2 mmol/g-hybrid (486 mg/g-hybrid). Significant spectroscopic changes, including diffuse reflectance darkening and pronounced photoluminescence quenching, were observed, resulting from interactions between phenol's π-conjugated system and the hybrid material. In contrast, cyclohexanol, a non-aromatic compound, showed minimal interaction, confirming the material's specificity for phenol. Under high humidity, phenol detection remained effective despite a reduced adsorption capacity (3.1 mmol/g-hybrid), demonstrating its robustness under varying conditions. These results underscore the potential of R3B/C10TMA/LT for atmospheric phenol sensing. Future research should focus on developing this material into films or bulk devices for practical applications.