Engineering an AIE N2H4 fluorescent probe based on α-cyanostilbene derivative with large Stokes shift and its versatile applications in solution, solid-state and biological systems

The first AIE fluorescent probe Co-NH based on the α-cyanostilbene derivative was engineered for sensing N2H4 with large Stokes shift and long emission wavelength and its versatile applications in solution, TLC plates and biological systems. [Display omitted] •A first AIE fluorescent probe Co-NH based on the α-cyanostilbene derivative for detecting N2H4 was reported.•Probe Co-NH displayed large Stokes shift and long emission wavelength.•The probe showed versatile applications for sensing N2H4 in solution, solid-state and biological systems. Developing effect methods for sensing N2H4 in the environmental and biological systems is particularly important as its terrible toxicity. However, most of the reported N2H4 fluorescent probes have aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) effect, limited Stokes shift and short emission wavelengths, and thus these shortcomings restrain their comprehensive applications. In this work, we designed a first AIE N2H4 fluorescent probe Co-NH based on the α-cyanostilbene derivative. This probe Co-NH integrated intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) and AIE mechanisms. The probe Co-NH has remarkable aggregations with increasing proportion of water, and these aggregates show obviously redshift in emission with large Stokes shift (170 nm and 205 nm in 1,4-dixoane and pure water respectively). Importantly, Co-NH can sense N2H4 in 1,4-dioxane/H2O (v/v = 9/1) solution with low LOD (0.101 μM), high selectivity and photostability. With the aids of fluorescence in solid-states, Co-NH has achieved in detecting N2H4 in TLC plates. In addition, Co-NH exhibits the ability for tracing N2H4 in living cells and zebrafish. We hope Co-NH is a useful tool for detection of N2H4 in various environments.