Nonlinear fluorescence response driven by ATP-induced self-assembly of guanidinium-tethered tetraphenyletheneElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Details of synthesis, spectroscopic analysis and fluorescent titration. See DOI: 10.1039/c2cc33262k

Nonlinear fluorescence response, which is particularly important to attain the high signal-to-background ratio, was realized by the aggregation-induced fluorescence increase of guanidinium-tethered tetraphenylethene with ATP. Guanidinium-tethered tetraphenylethene shows ATP-selective turn-on fluorescence in a nonlinear fashion. This sigmoidal response is very essential for a sensor to attain the high signal-to-background ratio.