Selective detection of nitrite ion by an AIE-active tetraphenylethene dye through a reduction step in aqueous media

Abstract

This paper reports a highly selective nitrite ion receptor based on an AIE-active tetraphenylethene-bearing amino functionality. In water, the receptor has been shown to be selective for nitrite ion (NO₂⁻) over other anions (NO₂⁻, CH₃COO⁻, NO₃⁻, CO₃²⁻, S₂O₃²⁻, SO₄²⁻, HSO₃⁻, and Cl⁻), with pronounced changes in absorption characteristics i.e. red-shift of ∼30 nm. The visual observation of colour change, shift in absorption, and enhancement of emission, clearly show that this receptor is very selective and sensitive to nitrite ions.