“…As the second most abundant transition metal ion in the human body, zinc is considered to play a critical role in many biological processes, such as gene transcription, metalloenzyme catalysis, immune response, and mammalian reproduction. , With most restrained to proteins and enzymes, free zinc ion still can be found in many tissues, such as brain, retina, and intestine . The disorder of Zn 2+ concentration can lead to a series of diseases, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, ischemic stroke, and kidney stone. , In contrast, cadmium is not only a nonessential element for human body but also can cause many serious diseases and even cancers, despite its similar electronic composition and chemical state as zinc. , Mainly from atmospheric deposition of mining activities and effluent from industrial process, cadmium pollution has shown a huge threat to the environment and human health. , Accordingly, the detection of Zn 2+ and Cd 2+ have been attracting more and more attention. − With advantages of simplicity, high sensitivity, and high profitability, lots of fluorescent probers for these two cations have been investigated. − However, the sensors with fluorescent wavelength in the NIR-II are still less common, which could offer distinct advantages mentioned above. NIR-II fluorescent probers for Zn 2+ based on small molecules have been demonstrated .…”