AIE‐Based Sensor Combination for Oleic Acid/Elaidic Acid Discriminating and Sensing

Abstract

Two aggregation induced emission molecules (TPE‐MZ and QM‐Py‐TPE) have been synthesized and characterized. Similar to conventional AIE based molecules, both molecules displayed good sensitivity towards water fraction and viscosity of dispersing medium. The fluorescent emission intensity of TPE‐MZ gradually reduced with increasing concentration of oleic acid and elaidic acid within the range of 0.2–5 mM. The inflection points of TPE‐MZ fluorescent emission maximum for oleic acid and elaidic acid were observed at 1.40 and 0.80 mM, respectively. The corresponding inflection points of QM‐Py‐TPE were 1.80 and 2.00 mM for oleic acid and elaidic acid, respectively. Sensor combination (TPE‐MZ:QM‐Py‐TPE=2 : 1) emitted pink and yellow fluorescence in elaidic and oleic acid. Fluorescent emission ratio of I646/I508 of sensor combination displayed acceptable linear relationship (R2=0.9826) with concentration of oleic acid (within the concentration of 4 mM). Thus, the sensor combination was capable of oleic acid and elaidic acid naked‐eye discriminating and quantitively sensing.