A novel self-assembled supramolecular sensor based on thiophene-functionalized imidazophenazine for dual-channel detection of Ag+ in an aqueous solution

Abstract

Herein, a novel self-assembled supramolecular sensor (S1) based on thiophene-functionalized imidazophenazine for Ag+ was designed and synthesized. It showed dual-channel detection properties for Ag+ based on the competitive mechanism of supramolecular self-assembly with high sensitivity and selectivity even in the presence of other metal ions. Its detection limit for Ag+ is 8.18 × 10-9 M. Upon the addition of Ag+, the solution changes from yellow to light purple and the fluorescence is quenched. Furthermore, the sensing mechanism between Ag+ and S1 is investigated via IR and 1H NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and density functional theory calculations.