A quinoline derivative-based supramolecular gel for fluorescence ‘turn-off’ detection of Fe³⁺ and Cu²⁺

In this research, we synthesized and constructed a novel gelator (namedQN) combining quinoline and naphthalene that self-assembled in N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF) to form a stable supramolecular gel (namedOQN). Under UV light, gelOQNexhibited extremely bright yellow fluorescence. The gelOQNshowed excellent sensing performance for both Fe3+and Cu2+, with a fluorescence 'turn-off' detection mechanism and the lowest detection limit of 7.58 × 10-8M and 1.51 × 10-8M, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra, x-ray powder diffraction (XRD), rheological measurements, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and fluorescence spectroscopy were used to characterize the gelOQN. TheOQNion-responsive membrane created is an excellent fluorescent writing material.