A highly efficient PET switch on–off–on fluorescence receptor based on calix[4]arene for the selective recognition of Cd2+ and Sr2+

Abstract

A novel PET (photoinduced electron transfer) based substituted calix[4]arene fluoroionophore has been synthesized and used for the selective recognition of Cd(2+) and Sr(2+) by emission spectra. The detection limit of the synthesized receptor was found to be 0.94 pM for Cd(2+) and 1.04 pM for Sr(2+). Moreover, this probe has been applied to the recognition of Cd(2+) and Sr(2+) in waste water.