Ir(Ⅲ) complex Ir(ppy)3 was used as luminescent probe of the detection of three nitroaromatics include 3?nitrobenzoic acid, 3?nitrobenzyl alcohol, and 3?nitrotrifluorotoluene. And the luminescent detection mechanism was studied by density functional theory calculation and spectral analysis. The results showed that 3?nitrobenzoic acid, 3?nitrobenzyl alcohol and 3?nitrotrifluorotoluene could quench the luminescence of Ir(ppy)3 in acetonitrile, with detection efficiencies KSV of 20.4 L/mmol, 1.8 L/mmol and 2.8 L/mmol, and the lowest detection limits are 0.155×10-6 mol/L, 1.760×10-6 mol/L and 1.116×10-6 mol/L, respectively. The luminescent detection mechanism of 3?nitrobenzoic acid, 3?nitrobenzyl alcohol, and 3?nitrotrifluorotoluene of Ir(ppy)3 is electron transfer.
