AIE active luminous dye with a triphenylamine attached benzothiazole core as a portable polymer film for sensitively detecting CN- ions in food samples

Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) active 3-(3-(benzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)-2-hydroxyphenyl)-2-(4'-(diphenylamino)-[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)acrylonitrile (BTPA) has been designed and synthesized herein, with the goal of detecting CN− ions at a low-level in semi–aqueous medium. The deliberate addition of the electron-deficient alkene BTPA increased its sensitivity and selectivity to CN− ions, with a better detection limit of 6.4 nM, unveiling the next-generation approach to creating sophisticated CN− ions selective chemosensors. The ESI-MS and NMR spectra analyses provided strong support for the structures of the chemosensors, while the UV–Vis, photoluminescence, and 1H-NMR titration experiments provided support for the sensing efficiencies. Subsequently, PVDF/BTPA electrospun nanofibers have been effectively produced as functional films. These nanofiber films exhibit outstanding mechanical strength, photo/thermal stability, and optical responsiveness to CN− ions, making them a potential choice for on-field emerging contaminant detection.