A Bifunctional Fluorescence Probe Based on AIE-ICT Strategy for Visual Detection of Cu/Co in Complex Matrix.

A novel fluorescence chemical sensor-based probe 1-{[(E)-(2-aminophenyl)azanylidene]methyl}naphthalen-2-ol (AMN) was designed and synthesized, which performed a "naked eye" detection ability toward Cu and Co based on aggregation-induced emission (AIE) fluorescence strategy. It has sensitive detection ability for Cu and Co. In addition, the color changed from yellow-green to orange under the sunlight, realizing the rapid identification of Cu/Co, which has the potential of on-site visual detection under the "naked eye". Moreover, different "on" and "off" fluorescence expressions were exhibited under excessive glutathione (GSH) in AMN-Cu and AMN-Co systems, which could be employed to distinguish Cu from Co. The detection limits for Cu and Co were measured to be 8.29 × 10 M and 9.13 × 10 M, respectively. The binding mode of AMN was calculated to be 2:1 by Jobs' plot method analysis. Ultimately, the new fluorescence sensor was applied to detect Cu and Co in real samples (tap water, river water, and yellow croaker), and the results were satisfying. Therefore, this high-efficiency bifunctional chemical sensor platform based on "on-off" fluorescence detection will provide significant guidance for the advance development of single-molecule sensors for multi-ion detection.