A regeneratable and highly selective fluorescent probe for sulfide detection in aqueous solution.

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Sulfide (S^2-) is a crucial analyte in environmental and biological systems.
• Developing selective and sensitive detection methods for sulfide is essential.
• Existing methods often lack selectivity or require complex procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize a novel fluorescent probe for sulfide detection.
• To investigate the probe's sensing mechanism and performance.
• To establish a practical fluorescence-based method for environmental sulfide analysis.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis and characterization of a coumarin-dipicolylamine-Cu(2+) complex.
• Fluorescence spectroscopy for sensing experiments in aqueous solutions.
• Single-crystal X-ray diffraction and DFT calculations to elucidate the sensing mechanism.

Main Results:

• The probe exhibits high sensitivity and selectivity for sulfide over other anions.
• A low detection limit of 14 nM for sulfide was achieved with rapid response.
• The probe is regenerable, allowing for repeated use.
• The displacement mechanism was confirmed by structural and computational analyses.

Conclusions:

• A novel, regenerable fluorescent probe for sensitive and selective sulfide detection was developed.
• The probe provides a rapid and effective method for analyzing sulfide in environmental samples.
• Understanding the displacement mechanism enhances the design of future chemosensors.