A novel strategy for the design of smart supramolecular gels: controlling stimuli-response properties through competitive coordination of two different metal ions

By rationally introducing Ca(2+) and Fe(3+) into a supramolecular gel, a bimetal-gel CaFeG was prepared. CaFeG could reversibly "turn-on" its fluorescence upon sensing H2PO4(-) with specific selectivity under gel-gel states through the competitive coordination of Ca(2+) and Fe(3+) with gelators and H2PO4(-). Thus, CaFeG could act as a H2PO4(-) test kit and could be utilised in rewritable security display materials.