A new oligothiophene derivative (3TY) was synthesized, and used as a highly selective hydrazine (N2H4) chemosensor in ∼100% aqueous solution with "naked-eye" colorimetric and "turn-on" fluorimetric response. This chemosensor 3TY enabled ultrafast and ultrasensitive detection of hydrazine with ultralow detection limit of 1.45 nM (0.04 ppb) in a wide sensing pH range from 6 to 10. The sensing mechanism of 3TY toward hydrazine was strongly and fully confirmed. More importantly, colorimetric paper test strip and solid support silica are easily prepared by 3TY for on-site and real-time detection of hydrazine. Furthermore, 3TY displays many potential applications for detecting N2H4 in environmental water and human urine along with bio-imaging in living HeLa cells.
Keywords: Bio-imaging; Chemosensor; Colorimetric; Fluorimetric; Hydrazine; Oligothiophene derivative.
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