A colorimetric and reversible fluorescent chemosensor for Ag+ in aqueous solution and its application in IMPLICATION logic gate

A new colourimetric and fluorescent chemosensor L-1 based on phenazine derivative was designed and synthesized, which could detect Ag+ ions in aqueous solution with high sensitivity and selectivity over a wide pH range. The addition of Ag+ to an aqueous solution of L-1 induced a change in the solution color from yellow to shallow-orange and fluorescent quenching, indicating that L-1 could act as an excellent ON−OFF-type fluorescent chemosensor for Ag+. Furthermore, the actual usage of sensor L-1 was further demonstrated by test kits and silica gel plates. In addition, this sensor can serve as a recyclable component in sensing materials. The corresponding experiment proved that this probe can be repeated use above 4 times. Notably, the test strips could conveniently and rapidly detect Ag+ in solutions. [Display omitted] •A new sensor for highly selective and sensitive detection of Ag+ in colorimetric and fluorescent response.•The detection limit of the sensor towards Ag+ was 3.25×10−7M.•L-1 could serve as a potential recyclable component by fluorescent changes in sensing materials.•The test strips could conveniently detect silver ion in aqueous solutions.•L-1 could act as an implication (IMP) function logic gate. In this work, a new phenazine-based derivative (L-1) which based on 2,3-diamino-phenazine and 5-(4-chlorphenyl)-2-furaldehyde was designed to act efficiently in a chemodosimeter approach for the rapid and selective detection of silver ion in aqueous solution over a wide pH range. The addition of Ag+ to an aqueous solution of L-1 induced a change in the solution color from yellow to shallow orange and fluorescent quenching, indicating that L-1 could act as an excellent ON−OFF-type fluorescent chemosensor for Ag+. With a detection limit of 3.25×10−7M, the chemosensor shows great potential to monitor Ag+ in environmental analysis systems. Furthermore, this sensor can serve as a recyclable component in sensing materials. These properties make L-1 act as an accurate Ag+ controlled ON−OFF−ON fluorescence switch and implication (IMP) function logic gate. In addition, the actual usage of sensor L-1 was further demonstrated by test kits and silica gel plates. Notably, the stoichiometry of the complexes between the sensor and Ag+ is indicative of a 2:1 ratio which was determined by a Job's plot yielded from fluorescence titrations. And the mode of interaction between Ag+ ions and L-1 has been supported by 1H NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry studies.