Fluorescence turn-on NapTp in CTAB micelles for efficient detecting ferric ions in aqueous system

[Display omitted] •This paper designs a rapid and simple route to encapsulate Naphthalimide-based probe (NapTp) into the hydrophobic core of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) micelles, while ensuring solubility of the NapTp-CTAB assembly in water.•The NapTp-CTAB assembly displays distinct fluorescence “turn-on” for sensing Fe3+ ions in 100% aqueous solution, indicating the capability as fluorescence “turn-on” indicator. The sensing process is rapid and takes three seconds, and offers excellent differentiation from other common canions.•The probe most clearly reveals 1:1 multiplexing characteristics for aqueous analytes. It has an obviously increasing in the fluorescence maximum 535nm, revealing selective detection of Fe3+ ions with a 6-fold “turn-on” response for the probe. The detection limit of NapTp-CTAB for Fe3+ ions is estimated to be of 8.05×10−7M. Naphthalimide-based probe (NapTp) has poor solubility and remain essentially none missive in water. This paper describes a rapid and simple route to encapsulate the probe NapTp into the hydrophobic core of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) micelles, while ensuring solubility of the NapTp-CTAB assembly in water. Due to the hydrophobic character of the micelles core, the NapTp becomes fluorescent in water as it behaves in organic solvents. Importantly, the NapTp-CTAB assembly displays distinct fluorescence “turn-on” for sensing Fe3+ ions in 100% aqueous system. The probe most clearly reveals 1:1 multiplexing characteristics for aqueous analytes with an excellent selectivity. The detection limit of NapTp-CTAB for Fe3+ ions is estimated to be of 8.05×10−7M.