The switchable fluorescent detection of mercury, copper, and iodine in real water samples using bola-amphiphilic-tetraphenylethene

The main objectives of this study are the synthesis of fluorescent bola-amphiphilic-TPE and investigations of its wide range of photochemical properties. Initially, the TSC-TPE-TSC was synthesized for this purpose. Then, using UV-Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy, the AIE studies and interactions of TSC-TPE-TSC with a variety of metal ions were investigated in tap water, distilled water, and EtOH/H2O. The studies revealed that the TSC-TPE-TSC had turn-off sensor characteristics against Hg2+ and Cu2+ ions. Additionally, the interactions of TSC-TPE-TSC, TSC-TPE-TSC-Hg2+, and TSC-TPE-TSC-Cu2+ with anions were also studied in EtOH/H2O (v/v:1, pH 7).The TSC-TPE-TSC-Hg2+ displayed specific turn-on fluorescence characteristics against I? ions. Moreover, the computed LOD values for TSC-TPE-TSC/metals (Cu2+ or Hg2+) and TSC-TPE-TSC-Hg2+/I? were 2.42 (for Cu2+), 0.39 (for Hg2+), and 3.70 (for I?), respectively. On the other hand, 1H NMR, FTIR, and DFT experiments were used to determine the binding's morphology. In all reversal studies, the alternate combination of HgCl2 and [Bu4N]I to TSC-TPE-TSC produced switchable off/on variation in all reversal assays. In the end, efficient methods were created in tap water, distilled water, and EtOH/H2O solvent systems for the detection of Hg2+, Cu2+, and I?.

Automated summary

The main objective of this study is to synthesize fluorescent bola-amphiphilic-TPE and investigate its wide range of photochemical properties. The TSC-TPE-TSC was initially synthesized and its interactions with various metal ions were studied using UV-Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy. The study revealed turn-off sensor characteristics of TSC-TPE-TSC against Hg2+ and Cu2+ ions. Additionally, the study also investigated the interactions of TSC-TPE-TSC and TSC-TPE-TSC-Hg2+ and TSC-TPE-TSC-Cu2+ with anions. TSC-TPE-TSC-Hg2+ displayed specific turn-on fluorescence characteristics against I? ions. The LOD values for TSC-TPE-TSC/metals (Cu2+ or Hg2+) and TSC-TPE-TSC-Hg2+/I? were calculated to be 2.42 (for Cu2+), 0.39 (for Hg2+), and 3.70 (for I?), respectively. The binding's morphology was determined using 1H NMR, FTIR, and DFT experiments. The alternate combination of HgCl2 and [Bu4N]I with TSC-TPE-TSC showed switchable off/on variation in all reversal assays. Efficient methods for the detection of Hg2+, Cu2+, and I? were established in tap water, distilled water, and EtOH/H2O solvent systems.