A ratiometric fluorescent chemosensor for Zn2+ in aqueous solution through an ESIPT coupled AIE process

In this study, an efficient chemosensor (HL) has been designed and synthesized based on bis-Schiff base. The sensor could detect Zn2+ ions in a ratiometric way, which might be mainly due to an ESIPT coupled AIE process. In the absence of Zn2+, the sensor displays fluorescence emission at 500 nm, on addition of Zn2+ to an aqueous solution of HL, the sensor shows significant fluorescence enhancement at 457 nm. More importantly, the detection limit for Zn2+ can reach at 10(-7) M level. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.