A fluorescent probe based on benzothiazole and benzoindole for detecting hydrazine in various applications

Abstract

The compound hydrazine (N2H4) has a wide range of applications in the chemical industry. However, the widespread use and improper handling of N2H4 pose potential risks to human health and environmental safety because of its high toxicity. Thus it is imperative to establish simple, reliable, and rapid analysis technics for monitoring N2H4 levels in the environment. Herein, a novel organic small-molecule fluorescent probe has been prepared through incorporating benzothiazole and benzoindole moieties. During N2H4 detection, this probe exhibited remarkable advantages, including facile synthesis, a short reaction time, high selectivity and sensitivity, and easy observation of fluorescence signal in a variety of matrices including solution, soil, plant tissue, and food samples. Additionally, this probe could be conveniently prepared into test strips and detection swabs, enabling integration with smartphone app such as color recognition software. This innovative combination established an efficient and user-friendly visualization platform that offers substantial potential for N2H4 detection across diverse fields, including environmental analysis and food testing. These findings significantly broaden the application range of N2H4 probes.