A color-switching colorimetric sensor towards Cu2+ ion: Sensing Behavior and logic operation

In this paper, we synthesize and report a Cu2+-sensing probe with two detection channels, 6,6′-(1E,1′E)-((2E,2′E)-(1,2-diphenylethane-1,2-diylidene) bis(hydrazine-2,1-diylidene))bis(methan-1-yl-1-ylidene)bis(3-(diethylamino)phenol) (referred to as BDBP). Its colorimetric and fluorescence quenching sensing responses towards Cu2+ ion are fully investigated. It is found that BDBP can recognize Cu2+ by forming a large conjugation plane with it, resulting in a red shift of electronic transition and correspondingly color-switching of BDBP. Correspondingly, the absorption and emission spectra of BDBP are both sensitive towards Cu2+ ion with high sensitivity, as well as excellent selectivity. Based on above sensing mechanism, an AND logic operation can be achieved using Cu+ ion and ClO- as the inputs, making BDBP a promising candidate for further applications in molecular logic devices.