Supramolecular organogel with aggregation-induced emission for ultrasensitive detection and effective removal of Cu2+ and Hg2+ from aqueous solution

ABSTRACT Herein, by rationally introducing multi-interactions sites, a new rhodamine derivative BT was successfully designed and constructed. The BT can further self-assemble into a stable supramolecular organogel BTG and exhibits strong pink-white aggregation-induced emission (AIE). Interestingly, the BTG exhibits selective and ultrasensitive sensing property for Cu2+. The limit of lowest detection (LOD) of BTG for Cu2+ is approximately 0.829 nM. By adding Cu2+ into the BTG, a no fluorescence Cu2+ coordinated metallogel BTG-Cu formed. Due to the competitive coordination of Hg2+, the BTG-Cu exhibits promising sensing properties for Hg2+, such as high selectivity and ultra-sensitivity, fluorescence turn-on response, instant response to Hg2+ (