Advances and challenges of metal ions sensors based on AIE effect

Metal cations have a significant impact on the metabolism and normal physiological activities of organisms. Therefore, it is necessary to develop excellent sensors with high sensitivity, selectivity, response speed, anti-interference ability, and simple and cost-effective operation for detection of metal ions. Materials with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) effect provide a new innovative approach to the ideal metal ions sensors. Consequently, a large number of metal ion sensors based on AIE molecules have been derived since the AIE phenomenon is disclosed. Especially in recent years (2018 – early 2023), the reports about AIE metal ion sensors get a rapid growth. Therefore, this paper makes a review on the recent development of AIE metal ions sensors, especially focusing on the discussion and summary of the receptor structure, sensing mechanism, selectivity, limit of detection, response time, and application field, with a hope for helping better disseminate the knowledge and expedite research and application of AIE metal sensors. In this review, the AIE metal sensors are summarized in an order of metals in periodic table of elements, making one easily know that there are more than half of all metals have not been tested yet by AIE sensors, and still have both great challenge and great opportunity. Meanwhile, more problems, developing trend, and suggestions in the research of AIE metal sensors are put forward.