• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.32 no.11
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• pp.757-765
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• 2023

Lead, a heavy metal widely employed in various industries, continues to pose a threat to both human health and the environment. Therefore, the development of a sensor capable of rapidly and accurately detecting lead(II) ions in real-time at contaminated sites is crucial. In this study, we have engineered a fluorescent sensor with the ability to efficiently detect lead(II) ions under actual environmental conditions, including tap water and freshwater. The compound, tetraphenylethylene carboxylic acid derivative (TPE-COOH), exhibits high selectivity and sensitivity toward lead(II) ions in aqueous solution, where the interaction between TPE-COOH and lead(II) ions leads to its aggregation, thus triggering a fluorescence "turn-on" based on the aggregation-induced emission (AIE) mechanism. Impressively, compound TPE-COOH proficiently detects lead(II) ions within a range of 30 to 100 𝜇M in tap water and freshwater, even in the presence of various interfering substances.