Fabrication of LB thin film of pillar[5]arene-2-amino-3-hydroxypyridine for the sensing of vapors

•In this work, we prepared Langmuir-Blodgett film of a pillar[5]arene derivative.•Then LB film of pillar[5]arene compound was characterized.•Organic vapor sensing properties of prepared LB film was investigated. This paper reported that a novel pillar[5]arene derivative (P5-AP) concluding ten 2-Amino-3-hydroxypyridine fragments was structured for preparing a macrocycle with an appropriate cavity for sensing harmful organic vapors. Thin films of P5-AP were fabricated using a modified Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) method and the formation of these thin films was verified by Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) and UV–vis absorption spectrum. The interaction or response of P5-AP film coated onto suitable substrates to six different organic vapors (aromatic and chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons) was investigated via QCM and Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) methods. The overall results showed that gas sensor components comprising of P5-AP LB films have potentials for rapid and sensitive detection harmful organic vapors.