A novel AIE chemosensor based on quinoline functionalized Pillar[5]arene for highly selective and sensitive sequential detection of toxic Hg2+ and CN−

Abstract Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) is widely used for fluorescence “on-off-on” detection ions and molecular. Herein, we report a novel AIE chemosensor through self-assembly of quinoline functionalized pillar[5]arene ( SPQ5 ). The SPQ5 can bind with Hg 2+ tightly through coordinating reaction. By introducing Hg 2+ into AIE-based chemosensor, metal-coordinated chemosensor ( SPQ5 -Hg 2+ ) was obtained, the SPQ5 -Hg 2+ could high selectively and sensitively detection of CN − by competitive coordinating interactions. The LODs of SPQ5 for Hg 2+ and CN − are 2.53 × 10 −8  M and 7.71 × 10 −8  M, respectively. In addition, Hg 2+ test kit was prepared by loading the SPQ5 chemosensor on a silica gel plate, which could more convenient and efficiency detection Hg 2+ and CN − . Interestingly, the chemosensor SPQ5 could instant sense the Hg 2+ and CN − by the changing of fluorescence color and fluorescence intensity. Notably, the fluorescence intensity changes of SPQ5 upon the addition of Hg 2+ and CN − were utilized as an IMP logic gate at the molecular level, using Hg 2+ and CN − as chemical inputs and the fluorescence intensity signal as the output. On the other hand, the test kit by loading SPQ5 on a silica gel plate was prepared for convenient detection of Hg 2+ . This study provides a practical application for the sensing of toxic ions in aqueous solution by the construction of supramolecular system.