A highly selective turn-on water-soluble fluorescent sensor for gallium ion detection

In this work, a novel sensor, (E)-N '-(3-(tert-butyl)-2-hydroxybenzylidene)thiophene-2-carbohydrazide (1), based on salicylaldehyde and thiophene hydrazide moieties was designed and synthesized. The single-crystal structure of 1 was achieved and studied for understanding its functional properties. The interaction and recognition abilities of 1 with different metal ions were investigated. Sensor 1 showed excellent turn-on fluorescence with highly selective and specific recognition ability in the presence of gallium ions (Ga3+) in an aqueous solution. The sensing behavior of 1 with Ga3+ was also studied by photophysical experiments, ESI-MS analysis, and H-1 NMR titration. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) of 1 for the detection of Ga3+ in an aqueous solution were calculated as 58 nM, and 192 nM, respectively. DFT calculations were carried out to optimize the configuration of 1 and 1-Ga3+ complexes and rationalize the photophysical experimental data. Highly selective test strips based on sensor 1 were developed for Ga3+ detection. Sensor 1 was also used to detect Ga3+ in actual water samples, and a considerable recovery rate was obtained.

Automated summary

A novel sensor was designed and synthesized for the efficient detection of gallium ions, showing excellent turn-on fluorescence and highly selective recognition ability. Experimental and theoretical studies were conducted to comprehensively investigate the performance of the sensor, providing a theoretical basis for its application in environmental monitoring and water quality detection.