LAUSR

Abstract Self-assembly of water soluble highly fluorescent perylene tetracarboxylic (PTCA, Φf = 0.67) dye via metal coordination has been leads to the selective fluorescence sensing of Cu2+ and Pb2+ ions at neutral pH and Ag+ ions sensing via nanoparticles formation at basic medium. High-resolution transmission electron microscopic (HR-TEM) analysis revealed the conversion 1-D nanostructures of PTCA to spherical aggregates with Cu2+ and hexagonal prisms with Pb2+ ions. However, Ag+ ions were reduced to silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) at higher pH. The concentration dependent studies showed detection of both metal ions up to µM concentration level. Interference studies suggested good selectivity for both Cu2+ and Pb2+ ions at neutral pH in presence of other metal cations. Importantly, application potential of PTCA for selective fluorescence sensing of Cu2+ and Pb2+ ions have been demonstrated in filter paper as well as biological environment such as zebrafish and yeast.