A tetraphenylethylene-based AIE-active supramolecular chemosensor for ultrasensitive detection of Fe³⁺, Cu²⁺ and CN

Molecules exhibiting aggregation-induced emission (AIE) characteristics have gained prominence fluorescence in aggregated state, offering distinct advantages compared to traditional fluorogenic probes. This study proposes a hydrazine modified tetrastyrene derivative (Q) with AIE enhancement effect, which is used for high selectivity and ultrasensitive recognition of Fe³⁺ and Cu²⁺ by constructing a new metal coordination supramolecular complex (Q-Fe/Cu). Quantitative analysis revealed detection limits (LODs) of 6.35 × 10^-9 M (Fe³⁺) and 4.37 × 10^-9 M (Cu²⁺). Significantly, the coordinated complex Q-Cu (formed through Cu²⁺ incorporation) achieved high sensitive CN^- quantification with a LOD of 6.89 × 10^-8 M. Meanwhile, Q-based test strips can serve as convenient and efficient reagent kits for detecting Fe³⁺ and Cu²⁺, while Q-Cu based test strips can detect CN^- in water. This supramolecular design strategy establishes a novel paradigm for sample ultrasensitive recognition through programmable coordination-driven assembly.