A simple and effective luminescence sensor distinguishing cationic surfactants from other type of surfactants

Lanthanide-based organic-inorganic hybrid materials have shown important potential as luminescent detectors for various applications. We developed a nanohybrid luminescence sensor composed of Eu3+-β-diketonate complexes. The new composite shows remarkable luminescence enhancement in presence of cationic surfactants. We tested it successfully for facile detection of cationic surfactants in aqueous solution. The result is that it is useful as luminescence sensor to distinguish cationic from other type of surfactants. It allows highly reliable, simple, fast, and sensitive detection of cationic surfactants.