A multifunctional aggregation-induced emission-active photochromic probe for dual-channel Pt(Ⅱ) detection and...

Platinum(Ⅱ) is indispensable in industrial and medical applications, yet its environmental bioaccumulation and potential toxicity pose significant threats to human health. Despite progress, most existing Pt(Ⅱ) fluorescent probes are hindered by prolonged response times and reliance on single-channel readouts, which compromise analytical reliability in complex matrices. There is an urgent need for rapid, dual-channel sensing platforms that provide cross-validated results for on-site monitoring.

In this work, a dual-channel multifunctional fluorescent probe, TAE-Py-BT, was designed by integrating an aggregation-induced emission (AIE) luminogen, a photochromic diarylethene core, and a pyridine-benzothiazole receptor. By leveraging its AIE characteristics, the probe effectively circumvents aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ), enabling rapid (25 min) dual-channel fluorescence quenching and distinct colorimetric responses toward Pt(Ⅱ). The limits of detection were determined to be 0.074 μM and 0.852 μM, both well below the 25.6 μM (5 ppm) regulatory limit defined by the European Medicines Agency (EMEA). Furthermore, a smartphone-based sensing platform was developed for quantitative on-site detection, achieving satisfactory recoveries of 96.3%-109.6% in environmental and food samples.

The proposed sensing system demonstrates high practical feasibility for rapid Pt(Ⅱ) monitoring via independent quantitative models and cross-validation. Beyond analytical applications, the integration of reversible photochromism and Pt(Ⅱ)-mediated quenching enables the construction of a logic-based information encryption system. This work provides a versatile strategy for developing advanced AIE-active probes that combine precise chemical sensing with multi-functional logic operations.