Corrole-based Nanostructures for Sensing Applications

Porphyrin and related macrocycles have been widely exploited as sensing materials in chemical sensors. The performances of such materials are generally depicted in terms of the binding properties of the individual molecule, but we have recently showed that the supramolecular aggregation of the macrocycles in the solid films could offer additional binding mechanisms, enhancing the sensing properties of the material. Among the different porphyrin analogs, corrole has attracted an increasing interest, due to its peculiar properties, demonstrated as sensing material in the case of carbon monoxide detection. We report here the sensing performances of corrole aggregates deposited to functionalize quartz crystal microbalances. The porous nanostructures of the organic framework offer additional binding mechanisms not available to the individual receptor, so allowing enhanced performances as sensing material.