Highly sensitive sensing of polarity, temperature, and acid gases by a smart fluorescent molecule

Abstract A novel multiple stimuli-responsive fluorophore TPI was rationally designed and synthesized. Based on its excellent response behavior to polarity, it has been successfully applied in the quantitative determination of trace water in organic solvents, active pharmaceutical ingredient and vacuum pump oil. More impressively, it can be utilized for a promising candidate for efficient “turn on” type luminescence thermometers with broad-temperature detection range (covering physiological temperature), good linearity and reversibility, more striking and accurate. Furthermore, the introduction of an aliphatic primary amine group endowed TPI the ability to capture and recognize acid vapors. Remarkably, the prepared test scrip was sensitively and quantitatively respond to acid vapors (TFA, HCl and formic acid), especially to the polluting gas SO2. Their limits of detection are 118 ppb, 54.6 ppb, 86.8 ppb and 421 ppb, respectively. Obviously, this study realized rapid, simple and visual quantitative sensing of polarity, temperature, acid vapors, especially SO2 by virtue of single component fluorescent molecule.