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A green reaction-based turn-off fluorescence sensor for determination of copper ions: DFT calculations, quenching mechanism, green chemistry metrics, and application in environmental samples

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Abstract

When Cu(II) reacts with ascorbic acid (AA) to form Cu(I), Cu(I) can combine with eosin Y (EY) to form ionic associations, resulting in significant fluorescence quenching of the EY. Based on the turn-off of fluorescence in the chemosensor EY, a green reaction is proposed herein for the detection of Cu(II). The novel detection method for Cu(II) demonstrates simplicity, high sensitivity, and excellent selectivity, rendering it suitable for analyzing environmental samples. A static fluorescence quenching mechanism is validated through the Stern–Volmer relationship, and the thermodynamic parameters of the reaction are explored using a van 't Hoff plot. The reaction mechanism is investigated via fluorescence spectra, absorption spectra, and density-functional theory (DFT) calculations. The probe's green nature is confirmed by applying four green analytical chemistry metrics.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Primary Education, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, China

    Jian Wang

  2. College of Chemistry, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, China

    Jian Wang & Ling Chen

  3. School of Science, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand

    Yanan Li & Merilyn Manley-Harris

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  1. Jian Wang
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  2. Ling Chen
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  3. Yanan Li
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Contributions

Jian Wang: Conceptualization, Methodology, Investigation, Writing the original draft, Visualization; Ling Chen: Investigation, Visualization; Yanan Li: Investigation, Writing the original draft; Merilyn Manley-Harris: Methodology, Supervision.

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Correspondence to Jian Wang or Merilyn Manley-Harris.

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Wang, J., Chen, L., Li, Y. et al. A green reaction-based turn-off fluorescence sensor for determination of copper ions: DFT calculations, quenching mechanism, green chemistry metrics, and application in environmental samples. Anal Bioanal Chem (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-024-05293-x

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