A dual-channel chemosensor could successively detect CN− and HSO4− in an aqueous solution and act as a keypad lock

Abstract

A dual-channel sensor (T) based on a phenazine derivative has been designed and synthesized. The sensor T could successively detect CN⁻ and HSO₄⁻ in aqueous solution with high selectivity and sensitivity. Upon the addition of water solution of CN⁻, the sensor T showed an immediate visible color changes from yellow to orange, meanwhile, the yellow fluorescence of sensor T quenched. More interestingly, the color and fluorescence could be recovered upon the addition of HSO₄⁻ into the CN⁻ contained sensor T solutions. Other anions couldn't induce similar response. The detection limits of T to CN⁻ and T + CN⁻ to HSO₄⁻ were estimated to be 8.90 × 10⁻⁸ M and 1.46 × 10⁻¹⁰ M, respectively. Notably, this successive response feature of sensor T makes it has a potential utility for CN⁻ and HSO₄⁻ detection in aqueous solution.