A near-infrared turn-on fluorescent probe for the detection of hydrogen sulfide in water samples and food spoilage

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a poisonous pollutant that endangers the environment, and H2S is also produced during food spoilage. Herein, we constructed a dicyanoisophorone-based near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent probe (DCID) to detect H2S. DCID exhibited significant turn-on fluorescence at 700 nm with a low limit of detection (LOD = 74 nM), large Stokes shift (220 nm), prominent selectivity, and response time (100 s) toward H2S. Importantly, the DCID probe had powerful applications in the detection of H2S in environmental samples and food spoilage. In addition, based on DCID-loaded test strips and combined a smartphone sensing platform, which provided a portable and convenient approach for the detection of H2S. [Display omitted] •A near-infrared fluorescent probe (DCID) was designed and characterized.•DCID exhibited high sensitivity and rapid detection for H2S.•DCID test strips were capable of monitoring H2S produced by food spoilage.•DCID-loaded test strips combined with a smartphone for H2S analysis.