1-Pyrenecarboxaldehyde thiosemicarbazone: A novel fluorescent molecular sensor towards mercury (II) ion

A novel and simple fluorescent molecular sensor, 1-pyrenecarboxaldehyde thiosemicarbazone (Hpytsc), was synthesized. Its higher sensitivity and selectivity to mercury (II) ion were studied through absorption and emission channels. The UV–vis spectra show that the increasing mercury (II) ion concentrations result in the decreasing absorption intensity. The fluorescence monomer emission of Hpytsc is enhanced upon binding mercury (II) ion, which should be due to the 1:1 complex formation between Hpytsc and metal ion.