A novel triphenylamine-based fluorescent probe for high selectivity and sensitivity detection of UO22+ in water samples and living cells

Here, we report a novel triphenylamine-based fluorescent probe AIU for detecting UO₂2⁺. The probe AIU exhibited good selectivity, low detection limit (67 nm), and rapid response time(80s). The coordination mechanism of AIU toward UO₂2⁺ was investigated through theoretical calculations and other methods such as HPLC-MS. Moreover, AIU has demonstrated efficacy in detecting UO₂2⁺ in real water samples and in living cells. [Display omitted] •Probe AIU has good selectivity, a low detection limit (67 nm), and a rapid response time(80s) toward UO₂2⁺.•Computational chemistry is used to explain the reaction mechanism.•Probe AIU has demonstrated its efficacy in detecting UO₂2⁺ in real water samples and living cells.