A simple and easily synthesized fluorescent sensor L, based on condensation reaction of 1-Naphthylamine and terephthalaldehyde, was synthesized and characterized systemically. Both UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopic studies indicated that the sensor L showed good selectivity toward trivalent metal ions (such as Al3+, Fe3+, Cr3+, La3+ and Ce3+) over other monovalent or divalent metal ions. The sensing mechanism was suggested that the trivalent ion promoted the hydrolysis of Schiff base. Meanwhile, took the common trivalent ions Al3+, Fe3+ and Cr3+ as examples, limit of detection (LOD) values of sensor L were calculated to be 1.23, 0.94 and 1.14 nM for Al3+, Cr3+ and Fe3+, respectively, suggesting very high sensitivity towards the cations which could make it attractive in trivalent metal ions detection.
Keywords:
Schiff-base; crystal structure; fluorescence sensor; trivalent metal ion; hydrolysis
