A fluorescent sensor with a detection level of pM for Cd2+ and nM for Cu2+ based on different mechanisms

Abstract

A fluorescent sensor L, which showed turn-on response towards Cd²⁺ with a detection limit of 1.9 × 10⁻¹² mol L⁻¹ in acetonitrile–H₂O buffer solution based on the PET process and turn-off response toward Cu²⁺ with a detection limit of 4.9 × 10⁻⁹ mol L⁻¹ in pure water at pH 3.5 based on electrostatic effects, was developed.