A molecular half-subtractor based on a fluorescence and absorption dual-modal sensor for copper ions

A l-phenyl alanine derivative (L) could be used as a fluorescence and absorption dual-modal sensor, which was highly sensitive and selective to copper ion at physiological pH. We have drawn attention to the use of its copper complex to acquire a half-subtractor with parallel operating INHIBIT and XOR logic gates, by monitoring, fluorescence and absorbance as output signals, respectively.