Highly selective naked–eye detection of hazardous material pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) utilizing functionalized gold nanoparticles: from “π–hole” sensing methodology to hydrogel application

Key Points

• Detection relies on functionalized gold nanoparticles for sensing hazardous materials, specifically pentaerythritol tetranitrate.
• A highly selective method achieved reliable results in identifying hazardous substances quickly and easily.
• Assessment utilizes a novel sensing methodology based on 'π–hole' interactions between gold nanoparticles and PETN.
• The findings highlight potential applications in safety devices, emphasizing the need for practical and effective detection methods.