A dansyl group modified SBA-15 INHIBIT logic gate with [Hg2+ and Cl−] or [Hg2+ and Br−] as inputs

We developed a SBA-15-based INHIBIT logic gate (DA-SBA-15) which was prepared by covalent immobilization of a dansylamide derivative into the channels of the mesoporous silica material (SBA-15) via (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) groups. A series of characteristic results proved that the fluorescent ligand was successfully grafted into the mesopores of SBA-15. The fluorescent characterization revealed excellent selectivity of DA-SBA-15 to the Hg2+ ion. Moreover, DA-SBA-15 can be considered as a selective fluorescent probe for Cl− and Br−. The fluorescent changes of DA-SBA-15 upon the addition of ions (Hg2+, Cl− and Br−) were utilized as an INH logic gate at the molecular level, using [Hg2+ and Cl−] or [Hg2+ and Br−] as chemical inputs and the fluorescence intensity signal as output.