A novel and simple fluorescent chemical sensor SX based on AIE for relay recognition of Zn2+ and Cu2+ in aqueous system and analysis in logic gates

• The fluorescent chemical sensor SX based on o-hydroxybenzaldehyde has been designed and synthesized to detect Zn2+ and the relay [ SX + Zn2+] system can further recognize Cu2+. • With the increase of water content, the color of the solution changed from colorless to bright yellow in DMSO/H2O solution, and the chemical sensor SX showed a significant aggregation induction effect (AIE). • The chemical sensor SX can be used for detecting environment water samples containing Zn2+ and Cu2+, and be made into test strip to rapid detection Zn2+ and Cu2+. A simple, fast response and aggregation-induced emission (AIE) fluorescent chemical sensor 2,2′-(hydrazine-1,2-diylidenebis(methaneylylidene))diphenol ( SX ) based on o-hydroxybenzaldehyde had been designed and synthesized. Interestingly, the increase of water content, the color of the SX solution changed from colorless to bright yellow in solution, and the chemical sensor SX showed the unique AIE properties. The chemical sensor SX exhibited high selectivity and sensitivity to Zn 2+ without Cu 2+ in DMSO/H 2 O (4:1, v/v) solution, and the limit of detection was 6. 8 × 10 −8 M. In addition, the in situ generated [ SX + Zn 2+ ] system was used for the relay detection of Cu 2+ without separation and purification and exhibited a new fluorescence quenching signal under the same conditions, and limit of detection [ SX + Zn 2+ ] to Cu 2+ was 2.3 × 10 −8 M. Furthermore, the chemical sensor SX had been successfully applied to detect and analyze Zn 2+ and relay detect Cu 2+ in environmental water samples. A novel and simple fluorescent chemical sensor SX based on o-hydroxybenzaldehyde has been designed and synthesized to detect Zn2+ and the relay [ SX + Zn2+] system can further recognize Cu2+. The chemical sensor SX showed a significant aggregation induction effect (AIE) in DMSO/H2O solution. the response process of the chemical sensor SX to detect Zn2+ and the relay [ SX + Zn2+] system to recognize Cu2+ to were quite different. Simulation diagram of the recognition mechanism of chemical sensor SX to Zn2+ and the relay [ SX + Zn2+] system to Cu2+.