In comparison with the numerous studies that have centered on developing molecular frameworks for the functionalization of fluorescent materials, less research has addressed the influence of the side chains, despite such appendages contributing significantly to the properties and applications of fluorescent materials. In this work, a new series of cationic fluorescent probes with AIE characteristics have been developed, which exhibit unique sensitivity for charge-diffusion anions, namely HSO3-, via the interactions of ions and the cooperation of the controllable hydrophobicity. The impact of the alkyl chain length attached at the cationic probes suggested that the fluorescent intensity and sensitivity of the probes could be partially enhanced by adjusting their aggregation tendency through the action of the hydrophobic effect under aqueous conditions. DLS and SEM images indicated that different particle sizes and new morphologies of the probes were formed in the anion-recognition-triggered self-assembly process, which could be attributed to the composite effect of electrostatic actions, Van der Waals forces and π-π stacking.
Keywords: HSO3− recognition; aggregation self-assembly; fluorescent probe.