A novel pillar[5]arene-based emission enhanced supramolecular sensor for dual-channel selective detection and separation of Hg2+

Abstract

A supramolecular sensor (APRA–G) was successfully constructed via host–guest interactions between a rhodamine hydrazone functionalized pillar[5]arene (APRA) and a bis-pyridinium derivative (G), which showed highly selective and sensitive detection of toxic Hg²⁺ through a dual-channel (colorimetric and fluorescent) model. The detection limits of fluorescence and UV-vis spectroscopy towards Hg²⁺ were 1.69 × 10⁻⁸ M and 4.07 × 10⁻⁷ M, respectively, which were calculated using the 3σ method. Interestingly, APRA–G could act as an excellent material for Hg²⁺ separation. Based on ICP (including inductively coupled plasma) data, the separation percentage of the supramolecular sensor (APRA–G) for mercury ions was up to 99.68%.