Nanorings Resembling\nBeehives for Ultrasensitive Fluorescence\nDetection

In this study, we showcase the fabrication of two nanorings\nresembling\nbeehives using intricately designed donor–acceptor (D-A) fluorophores.\nThe D–A fluorophores, featuring three twisted fluorene groups\non each side of the acceptor group, adopt a bent conformation that\npromotes the creation of a nanoring morphology upon aggregation. With\nporosity for maximum binding sites, high emission efficiency, and\nwell-organized arrangements, the nanoring-based hives offer exceptional\nsensitivity and selectivity in the detection of organic sulfides.\nParticularly, nanorings formed from benzselenodiazole-containing molecules\nexhibit heightened sensitivity, achieving a limit of detection (LOD)\nof 0.2 ppb for dimethyl sulfide and 17 ppb for dimethyl disulfide.\nDue to its unparalleled sensitivity and selectivity, which was not\nachievable with previous optical sensors, this technology enables\nthe continuous monitoring of meat spoilage in its early stages on\nan hourly basis. This provides crucial insights into the exact moments\nwhen freshness begins to deteriorate and how long the meat can be\nstored for.